Defending the Teachers' Pension Scheme

10 May live!

Campaign Team — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:59:13 +0000

10 May – Your questions answered

jwhite — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:33:16 +0000

Which unions are taking action?

UCU members in all post 92 and FE Colleges are called to take strike alongside civil servants in the PCS union and Unite’s health and Ministry of Defence workers. In all, the strike call covers around 400,000 public sector staff.

If I am not a TPS member, am I still expected to take strike action?

While our dispute is over the TPS pension scheme, legally our trade dispute is with the employers. That means that if you are employed by a TPS institution which has been balloted you are called on to take action whether you are a member of the scheme or not. You can see a full list of the institutions where strike action will take place here:
http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/institutions-affected-by-strike-action-on-10-may/

Why are the education unions who have also rejected the TPS settlement not striking with UCU?

As the general secretary explained to UCU National Executive, the NUT took the decision at their Congress not to join the PCS and part of the Unite union in taking strike action on May 10. Their preference was to build for action later in the year. UCAC have taken a similar view, while the NASUWT is currently engaging in action short of a strike.

On what basis was the decision taken regarding 10^th May?

The General Secretary reported the position of other unions to the current NEC. The NEC, which is responsible for taking the decision to call strike action, decided by a majority to join the PCS and Unite primarily on the basis that taking action would send a message to government and also encourage other unions to join future action.

Don’t we need another ballot?

The union recently conducted a consultative ballot over the TPS campaign in which a majority of those who voted supported support the NEC’s rejection of the government’s proposals and agreed to take action with other unions. You can see the results here: http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/nec-to-decide-next-steps-after-ballot-results-announced/

It is then the responsibility of the elected NEC to implement this policy and decide when and if action should be taken.

What happens after 10 May?

Branches will have the opportunity to decide the union’s next steps at UCU’s Congress at the beginning of June. After Congress the recently elected NEC will then come into office and will be responsible for taking forward the union’s strategy.

How and who will decide whether we will be asked to take action in late June as well?

The NEC has so far only made a decision with regard to 10 May. After UCU’s Congress in early June the new NEC, including recently elected members, will take office and will need to make a decision about the next stage of the campaign.

How do I make sure my voice is heard?

This is a critical point in the campaign. Members should make sure that their branch officers know their views. Make sure you attend any branch meeting ahead of Congress, or if you cannot make your meeting, make sure you and your colleagues email your branch officers to let them know what you think. You can also email the General Secretary directly or your regional NEC member. You can find out who your regional NEC member is here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/nec

10 May events

Campaign Team — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:15:24 +0000

Below is a provisional list of events taking place on 10 May. PCS may have further events on their website. If you have events to be added please email Justine Stephens at: jstephens@ucu.org.uk

Birmingham – Assemble outside University train station at midday, for a joint strike rally at Birmingham University Hospital. UCU President-elect Kathy Taylor to speak. There are coaches from Birmingham city centre, Worcester, Dudley, Telford and Coventry. Seats on these coaches are free, but they are first-come-first-served. To book a place call the numbers on this leaflet. More information on UCU’s West Midland Region blog
Bristol – march from Bristol Royal Infirmary from 10.30 (to join Unite members) to Armada Hotel on Telephone Way for an indoor rally
Cardiff – Temple of Peace 12.30
Chester – strike rally at Chester Town Hall Square, 12noon
Hastings – march, assembling 11am at Hastings Pier, to the town centre contact Sam Buckley swpsam@hotmail.com
Liverpool – Pearce Suite at The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool for a lunchtime rally
London – march from St Thomas’s hospital 12 noon– Central Hall SW1 – 1pm. Followed by a rally at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster 1pm, at which UCU President Terry Hoad is to speak
Manchester – rally, 12:15-1:30pm, Mechanics’ Institute, 103 Princess Street
Newcastle – rally at Grey’s monument at 12 noon. Later on that day there is a public meeting at St John’s Church, Newcastle at 7.30pm, with speakers from various TU’s who have taken action on pensions and pay cuts
Norwich – rally at The Kings Centre, Norwich 12 noon contact Richard Edwards richarde@pcs.org.uk
Nottingham – joint union rally, noon-1pm in Market Square
Preston – rally organised by Preston Trades Council on the Preston Flag Market at 12 noon. Speakers: NUT, PCS, UCU and Unite
Sheffield – 12.00 noon, joint union rally outside the Town Hall; chair: president or vice-president of Sheffield Trades Union Council. Speakers: PCS, UNITE, UCU, ASLEF, SPAG (Sheffield Pensioners’ Action Group).
Evening meeting – 5.00-6.30 p.m - with NUT and other trades unions - Meeting Room B, Sheffield Town Hall. Chair: NUT. Speakers: PCS, UNITE, UCU, ASLEF
Swansea – Castle Square 12.30
Wrexham – Queens Square 12.00

Institutions affected by strike action on 10 May

jwhite — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:12:20 +0000

Below is a list of all universities and further and adult education institutions where UCU members will be called to take strike action on 10 May.

Universities where UCU members are called to take action:
Anglia Ruskin University
Bath Spa University
University of Bedfordshire
Birmingham City University
Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln
The University of Bolton
Bournemouth University
The University of Brighton
Buckinghamshire New University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Central School of Speech and Drama
The University of Central Lancashire
University of Chester
The University of Chichester
Coventry University
University of Cumbria
De Montfort University
University of Derby
The University of East London
Edge Hill University
University of Glamorgan
University of Gloucestershire
Glyndwr University
The University of Greenwich
Harper Adams University College
University of Hertfordshire
The University of Huddersfield
Kingston University
Leeds College of Art
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Trinity University College
The University of Lincoln
Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool John Moores University
London Metropolitan University
London South Bank University
The Manchester Metropolitan University
Middlesex University
Newman University College
The University of Wales, Newport
The University of Northampton
The University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Norwich University College of the Arts
The Nottingham Trent University
Oxford Brookes University
The University of Plymouth
The University of Portsmouth
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
Roehampton University
Rose Bruford College
Royal College of Music
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Sheffield Hallam University
Southampton Solent University
St Mary’s University College, Twickenham
Staffordshire University
The University of Sunderland
Swansea Metropolitan University
The University of Teesside
University of West London
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Trinity University College Carmathen
University for the Creative Arts
University College Birmingham
University College Falmouth (inc Dartington Coll.)
University College Plymouth St Mark and St John
University of the Arts, London
University of the West of England, Bristol
*The University of Westminster (individual letter sent)
The University of Winchester
The University of Wolverhampton
The University of Worcester
Writtle College
York St John University

Further and Adult Education Institutions where UCU members are called to take action
Abingdon and Witney College
Accrington and Rossendale College
Alton College
Amersham & Wycombe College
Askham Bryan College
Aylesbury College
Barking & Dagenham College
Barnet and Southgate College
Barnfield College
Barnsley College
Basingstoke College
Bedford College
Berkshire College of Agriculture
Bexley College
Bicton College of Agriculture
Birmingham Metropolitan College
Birmingham Metropolitan College
Bishop Auckland College
Bishop Burton College
Blackburn College
Blackpool & The Fylde College
Bolton College
Boston College
Bournemouth & Poole College
Bournville College of FE
Bracknell and Wokingham College
Bradford College
Bridgend College
Bridgwater College
Brockenhurst College
Bromley College
Brooklands College
Brooksby Melton College
Burnley College
Burton and South Derbyshire College
Bury College
Calderdale College
Cambridge Regional College
Canterbury College
Capel Manor College
Cardiff and Vale College
Carlisle College
Carshalton College
Central Bedfordshire College
Central Sussex College
Chelmsford College
Chesterfield College of Technology and Arts
Chichester College
Cirencester College
City and Islington College
City College Birmingham
City College Brighton and Hove
City College Coventry
City College Norwich
City College Plymouth
City Lit
City of Bath College
City of Bristol College
City of Sunderland College
City of Westminster College
City of Wolverhampton College
Cleveland College of Art and Design
Colchester Institute College
Coleg Ceredigion
Coleg Gwent
Coleg Llandrillo & Coleg Meiron Dwyfor
Coleg Menai
Coleg Morgannwg
Coleg Powys
Coleg Sir Gar
College of Haringey, Enfield & NE London
College of North West London
College of West Anglia
Cornwall College
Craven College
Croydon College
Darlington College
Dearne Valley College
Deeside College
Derby College
Derwentside College
Doncaster College
Dorton College
Dudley College of Technology
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College
East Berkshire College
East Durham & Houghall Community College
East Riding College
East Surrey College
Eastleigh College
Easton College
Epping Forest College
Exeter College
Fareham College
Farnborough College of Technology
Fircroft College
Furness College
Gateshead College
Gloucestershire College
Gower College, Swansea
Grantham College
Great Yarmouth College
Greenwich Community College
Grimsby Institute/Yorkshire Coast College
Guildford College
Hackney Community College
Hadlow College
Halesowen College
Harlow College
Harrow College
Hartlepool College
Hartpury College
Havering College, The
Henley College
Henley College Coventry
Herefordshire College of Art
Herefordshire College of Technology
Hereward College of FE
Hertford Regional College
Highbury College
Hillcroft College
Hopwood Hall College
Hugh Baird College
Hull College
Huntingdonshire Regional College
INTO University Partnerships
Isle of Wight College
K College
Kendal College
Kensington & Chelsea College
Kensington & Chelsea Prison Education
Kidderminster College
Kingston College
Kingston Maurward College
Kirklees College
Knowsley Community College
Lakes College West Cumbria
Lambeth College
Lancaster & Morecambe College
Leeds City College
Leeds College of Building
Leeds College of Music
Leek College
Leicester College
Lewisham College
Lincoln College
Liverpool Community College
Loughborough College
Lowestoft College
Macclesfield College
The Manchester College Prison Education
The Manchester College
Mary Ward Centre
Merthyr College (University of Glamorgan)
Mid Cheshire College
Mid Kent College
Middlesbrough College
Milton Keynes College
Morley College
Moulton College
Myerscough College
Neath College-Coleg Castell Nedd
Nelson & Colne College
New College Durham
New College Nottingham
New College Stamford
New College Swindon
Newbury College
Newcastle College
Newcastle Under Lyme College
Newham College
North East Surrey College of Technology
North East Worcestershire College
North Hertfordshire College
North Lindsey College
North Nottinghamshire College
North Warwickshire & Hinckley College
North West Kent College
Northampton College
Northbrook College
Northumberland College
Norton Radstock College
Oaklands College
Oldham College
Otley College of Ag/Hort
Oxford and Cherwell College
Pembrokeshire College
Peterborough Regional College
Petroc – Tiverton Campus/Barnstaple Campus
Plumpton College
Plymouth College of Art
Preston College
Queen Alexandra College
Reading College
Reaseheath College
Redbridge College
Redcar & Cleveland College
Richmond Adult Community College
Richmond Upon Thames College
Riverside College
Rotherham College of Arts & Technology
Royal National College for the Blind
Runshaw College
Salford College
Sandwell College of F & HE
Selby College
Sheffield College
Shipley College
Shrewsbury College of Art & Technology
Solihull College
Somerset College
South Birmingham College
South Cheshire College
South Devon College
South Downs College
South Essex College
South Leicestershire College
South Nottingham College
South Staffordshire College
South Thames College/Merton College
South Tyneside College
South Worcestershire College
Southampton City College
Southport College
Southwark College
Sparsholt College
St Helens College
Stafford College
Stanmore College
Stephenson College
Stockport College
Stockton Riverside College
Stoke-on-Trent College
Stourbridge College
Stratford upon Avon College
Strode College
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Suffolk New College
Sussex Coast College Hastings
Sussex Downs College
Swindon College
Tameside College
Telford College of Art & Technology
Thanet College
Tower Hamlets College
Trafford College
Tresham Institute College
Truro & Penwith College
Tyne Metropolitan College
Uxbridge College
Wakefield College
Walford & North Shropshire College
Walsall College
Waltham Forest College
Warrington Collegiate
Warwickshire College
West Cheshire College
West Herts College
West Lancashire College
West Nottinghamshire College
West Suffolk College
West Thames College
Westminster-Kingsway College
Weston College
Weymouth College
Wigan & Leigh College
Wiltshire College
Wirral Metropolitan College
Worcester College of Technology
Working Mens College
Yale College
Yeovil College
York College
Ystrad Mynach College
Adult Education College Bexley
Barnsley ACE
Bedfordshire BC – Adult Services
Birmingham ACE
Brent ACE (BACES)
Bristol ACE
Bromley Adult Education College
Buckinghamshire ACE
Calderdale ACE
Cambs CC
Cardiff ACE
Central Beds Council – ACL
Community Education Lewisham
Coventry ACE
Croydon Adult Learning & Training
Derby City ACE
Derbyshire ACE
Dorset Adult Education Service
East Riding ACE
Essex ACL
Gwent ACE
Hackney Learning Trust
HALS/HESTA
Hammersmith & Fulham Community, Learning and Leisure Services
Hull ACE
Kent Adult Education Services (KAES)
Lancashire Adult Learning
Leicester ACE
Leicestershire Ocuntil Council ACE
Link into Learning
Liverpool Adult Learning
Luton Borough Council
Manchester Adult Learning
Medway ACE
New Directions
NIACE
North East Lincs ACE
North Lincs ACE
Northamptonshire ACE
Oxfordshire Adult Learning
Peterborough ACE
Redbridge Inst of Ad Ed
Rutland County Council ACE
Southend on Sea BC
Suffolk CC
Surrey ACE
Sutton College of Adult Learning
The Institute
Thurrock ACE
Tower Hamlets ACE
Vale of Glamorgan ACE
Wakefield ACE
Walsall Adult and Community College
Waltham Forest Adult Education
Westminster Adult Ed
Wolverhampton ACE

UCU will join strike action and protests on 10 May

Campaign Team — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:27:38 +0000

UCU’s national executive committee have voted to take strike action on Thursday 10 May alongside other unions in an ongoing row over changes to members’ pension schemes.

UCU members in England and Wales who are part of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will join civil service union PCS and parts of the Unite union on strike.

Other events on the day include a protest by members of the police and prison officers’ trade unions – the Police Federation, NAPO and the POA – in defence of their pensions.

The controversial changes imposed by the government at the start of the month will see members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme work longer, pay more into their pension each month in return for a reduced pensions package when they finally retire.

Staff in colleges and universities across the UK are receiving reduced pay packets this month as the rise in their pension contributions takes effect.

Members can see how much they stand to lose by going to our contribution and benefits calculators here.

Strike day live

Campaign Team — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:44:04 +0000

Twinning arrangements for 28 March

jwhite — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:20:46 +0000

Lots of branches are already developing ‘twinning arrangements’ with London branches taking strike action on 28 March. You can find a full list of London branches taking the action on the homepage.

To set up a ‘twinning’ relationship with a London branch email Richard McEwan at Tower Hamlets college at richmcewan@hotmail.com (07532364638).

Strike London – march details

Campaign Team — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:05:51 +0000

Rally and demo, London strike day, 28 March.

Assemble for march:
11am MALET STREET, WC1E 7HY
nr. Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road,
Russell Square, Holborn, Euston.
Bike rack facility close by.

Followed by MARCH TO WESTMINSTER

UCU and NUT members will march through central London, with protestors due to assemble outside Malet Street from 11am and set off at 11:45am. Speakers at the pre-march rally at Malet Street include writer, political commentator and activist Owen Jones.

Marchers will then make their way through Bloomsbury, down Shaftesbury Avenue, along Charing Cross Road, down Whitehall and across Parliament Square to the Department for Education (DfE) (see map of route). At approximately 1pm there will be a rally outside the DfE where there will be speeches from UCU and NUT members and the children’s laureate Michael Rosen.

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Message from London Region

jwhite — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:14:58 +0000

Please see below a message from London Region:

Defend our pensions:

28th March NUT/UCU London wide strike

Dear colleagues,

While many members will be disappointed that the strike action on 28th March is not to be nationwide, the campaign to defend our pensions continues. The NUT and UCU are calling on their London members to take strike action as part of a coordinated series of rolling regional and national action.

Both unions have consulted members and have had resounding votes to escalate the action to stop the government making us pay more, get less and work longer.

Although the last strikes we took part in pushed the government to make some minor concessions, members in both unions have voted, in even in greater numbers, to reject the government’s ‘final offer’.

The government’s budget on Wednesday announced tax cuts for the rich funded through more attacks on pensioners, £10bn attack on welfare and cuts to child benefits. Further attacks on our pay were also announced by breaking up national bargaining and implementing regional pay structures.

All of us in TPS and the other public sector pensions will start to be deducted the increased pension contribution rates from April 1st.

The action on the 28th March will be an important signal to the government that we remain determined to protect our own livelihoods and those of future generations.

Both unions are calling on members nationally to directly support London colleagues through twinning arrangements with London colleges, universities and schools to organise both moral and financial support.

For example, members in branches outside London could raise a solidarity collection and contact the branch officers in a London FE college or post-92 university, plus organise a lunchtime protest on 28th, send solidarity messages by text, send a video message of collective support, send a photo of a giant card of solidarity messages, and so on.

The solidarity collection could also be used to send a delegate or two with the branch banner to the London demonstration on 28th.

In London on the M28, after picketing in the morning, a demonstration will assemble at 11am in Malet Street, London WC1E 7HY and march to Westminster. This will include delegations from across the country who will also be attending to show their support.

The next phase of the action will be outlined during the Easter break when the general secretaries from the different unions will meet to discuss the next steps in the campaign.

This government is a nasty one but it is also divided and weak. Our campaign to defend our pensions is making a difference. March 28th is the next step in securing all our futures.

Sean Vernell NEC sean.vernell@yahoo.co.uk 07951803776

Mark Cambell NEC mark.campbell_home@btopenworld.com 07766075744

Jim Wolfreys NEC jim.wolfreys@hotmail.co.uk 07787570328

David Armstrong NEC da114@hotmail.co.uk 07761763285

Richard McEwan NEC richmcewan@hotmail.com 07532364638

Alison Lord NEC lallylord@hotmail.com 07805819605

Cliff Snaith London Region Secretary csnaithster@googlemail.com

Geoff Carter London Region Chair Geoffrey.carter@barkingdagenhamcollege.ac.uk

Jenny Sutton London Region FE Chair jennymsutton@yahoo.co.uk

Mandy Brown London Region FE Secretary mandybrowncow@hotmail.com

Joel Dunn London Region HE Chair suckmasterburstingfoam@hotmail.com

Sean Wallis London Reg chair s.wallis@ucl.ac.uk

London members called to take 28 March strike action

Campaign Team — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:49:11 +0000

On Friday, the NEC agreed that the union’s London TPS members would take action alongside colleagues from NUT on 28 March. It was also agreed to defer a decision about action elsewhere in the country until the PCS union’s Executive had met. That meeting has now taken place and PCS have decided NOT to take strike action in the UK on 28 March. For the avoidance of doubt this means:

UCU members in London TPS branches WILL be called on to take strike action on 28 March
UCU members in TPS branches outside London WILL NOT be called on to take strike action on 28 March
UCU members in Scottish (STSS) and Northern Ireland (NISS) branches WILL NOT be called on to take strike action on 28 March

The NEC has asked branches not taking action to nonetheless hold lunchtime or similar events in support of our dispute on pensions on 28 March. Please let us know if you are planning an event so we can tell others.

We will also be circulating details of a demonstration in London by NUT and UCU colleagues on 28 March as soon as we have more details.