Political journalist of the year boycotts London Metropolitan University event

The 2009 Woman Political Journalist of the year, Lesley Abdela, has today cancelled an appearance at London Metropolitan University (LMU) in solidarity with the widespread and international concern over job cuts among teaching staff at the university. The award-winning reporter and humanitarian expert was due to give a talk at The Women’s Library on Thursday 26 November. However, she has told organisers she will not appear unless the academic boycott imposed by the University and College Union (UCU) has been lifted. As the university enters a second month of being greylisted by UCU, and consequently shunned by the academic community, the event has now been postponed. You can read the full story here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4259. We also continue to get reports that individual schools at London Met are contacting the Vice Chancellor with concerns that they are unable to put together research bids, secure speakers for events or recruit external examiners. *WHAT YOU CAN DO:*As ever, if you have information or reports on any events or professional collaborations with London Met, or any reports on the impact of the greylisting, please email them in to jstephens@ucu.org.uk

Stand up for Research – 5000 have signed the UCU statement – have you?

More than 5000 staff in higher education have now signed UCU’s statement calling on HEFCE to withdraw its proposals to make 25% of the assessment of research dependent on its ‘economic and social impact’. While consistently critical of the RAE, UCU is concerned that these proposals will penalise basic research, curiosity driven research and whole disciplines which cannot simply demonstrate ‘impact’. *WHAT YOU CAN DO*: We are asking every member in higher education to sign this statement to ensure that HEFCE hear the voice of the profession. You can sign here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/standupforresearch

“Condition Critical” – 9 December - defend research and teaching in medicine and health

Amidst mounting concern over cuts in medical training, research and health education across the UK, UCU is launching a campaign to defend these crucial areas of education. Our “Condition Critical” campaign launch event will be on Wednesday December 9th in central London and will bring together the whole spectrum of health education professionals and students who are concerned about the future of medical training and provision in the UK. As further job losses are threatened at some of the top medical schools in the country, the British Medical Association has warned that ‘there will soon be insufficient staff to educate and train the UK’s aspiring doctors’. Put this date in your diaries and for more details on how you can get involved, contact Ed Bailey at ebailey@ucu.org.uk.

Defend Higher Education – what you can do to support the campaign for job security

As we reported last week, UCEA has agreed to talks at ACAS in response to the joint unions’ united campaign to defend job security and quality in higher education. You can help the unions create pressure on the employers in advance of these talks by adding your name to the joint union petition on the campaign blogsite here: http://defendhighereducation.org.uk/?page_id=13

Staff to stop unpaid overtime as Barnet College tries to enforce new contracts

Staff at Barnet College have voted to work to rule in protest against controversial new contracts.  From last Thursday (22 October) members of the University and College Union (UCU) have not been working unpaid overtime and have stuck only to their contract hours. Under the new contracts staff will see maximum weekly teaching hours increased, annual leave cut by two weeks and the redundancy notice period slashed from four to three months. You can read more here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4232&from=1676. The story hit the local press here: http://www.pottersbar-today.co.uk/tn/news.cfm?id=42963&headline=Lecturers%92%20action%20over%20new%20contract

FE Bureaucracy: Have your say

Would you like to say something about bureaucracy in the FE and skills sector? The bureaucracy Reduction Group, the government body tasked with “making life easier for all who experience

the world of Further Education and Training” has set up a feedback form which you can use to tell them what you think. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/2r3eUq

Two Welsh universities set to strike over cuts and sackings

Swansea and Glyndwr universities face likely industrial action following provocative decisions to cut jobs and the sacking of a UC branch chair. On Monday, Swansea University’s ruling Council voted marginally in favour of plans to establish a redundancy committee, marking a historic policy shift for the university, which in the whole of its 90-year existence has had a policy of no compulsory redundancies. Read more here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4251. Meanwhile at Glyndwr University, UCU members have been balloted for strike action and action short of a strike following the sacking of senior lecturer Hamish Murphy. UCU says Hamish was dismissed by management for carrying out trade union activities following a long-running dispute with management over bullying and harassment. You can read more here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4253

UCU-UNISON-LSIS FE Staff Governors Conference  - 3 December 2009: ‘Hearing the Voice of the Staff Governor’

This event, on the theme of ‘Hearing the Voice of the Staff Governor’, and scheduled to take place on 3 December at UCU’s head office in Carlow Street, is open to all staff governors. The event will be interactive with both keynote speeches and interactive workshops, covering topics like recommendations arising from the current AoC-LSIS review of FE governance, an introduction to the forthcoming LSIS Guidance for College Staff Governors and FE Common Inspection Framework for Excellence. For full details and to register, click here.

Peoples’ Charter Convention, 21 November

The Peoples’ Charter Convention is the first national event to discuss and promote the Peoples’ Charter, to which UCU is affiliated. Invited speakers include Bob Crow (RMT) Matt Wrack (FBU) and Mark Serwotka (PCS) with many more to be confirmed. The Convention is open to all supporters and will focus on promoting the Charter in the run-up to the General Election. The Convention will take place at the Camden Centre, London, 10am – 3pm. Read more and register, here: http://www.thepeoplescharter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30&Itemid=14#

‘Put People First’ Conference – Saturday 7 November:

On Nov 7, as the G20 returns to the UK, The TUC is sponsoring a counter-conference which aims to explore the alternatives to the failed economic model and the cuts proposed by the G20 powers. The conference, which is being held at Westminster Central Hall, will bring together academics, activists, campaigners, unions, policy makers and YOU to share ideas. Tickets are free but limited – For full details, click here.

Education Solidarity Network – putting global solidarity into practice

Following the decision by 15 unions worldwide to sign UCU’s international agreement to defend quality and employment rights against marketisation in education, the signatories have launched a new initiative to put this solidarity into practice. The ‘Education Solidarity Network’ is a joint union blogsite which enables unions to share information about the marketisation of education and to campaign jointly to defend standards and provision. You can see the latest posts here: http://educationsolidaritynetwork.org/