UCU supports the TUC and rail unions campaign "Action For Rail" as train fares set to rise

Supporters of the Public Ownership of the Railways were out today leafleting commuters and passers-by as the announcement of rail fare price rises is expected today.  UCU was there to support the campaign.

Action for Rail says:

"UK railways need reform.  The privatisation of our railways has led to a fragmented and dysfunctional system."

"We want a railway that puts people before profit."

More details at:
http://actionforrail.org/
http://www.tuc.org.uk/aggregator/sources/13
http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/new-public-ownership-calls-as-rail-fares-set-to-rise/

Kathy Taylor, UCU National President and long standing UCU representative from the Northern Region, addresses Congress

Kathy Taylor, UCU President, at UCU Congress 31 May 2013

Kathy Taylor, who has worked at Northumberland College and (more recently) at Newcastle College, addressed UCU Congress this afternoon.

Kathy spoke of the importance of education and the increasing costs facing young people who wish to continue their studies after reaching the age of sixteen.  Details of Kathy's speech can be found here http://www.ucu.org.uk/6645

Kathy was elected as Vice-President in 2010 and at the end of this Congress, she will be passing the presidency on to her successor, Simon Renton.  For the last 12 months, Kathy has been national President.  Last year, she gave a speech to "Education International" on 'The Vandals at the Gate: Defending the profession in an age of austerity'.  Full details at: http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/m/d/Kathy_Taylor_EI_speech.pdf

Her presidency has seen what she has described as "The worst attacks since the 90s" http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6265016.  Kathy has always remained committed to supporting those in action, particularly in the northern region.

Delegates from the Northern Region involved at UCU Congress in Brighton

Julia Charlton, Northumbria University UCU, moves an amendment on behalf of the Women Members Standing Committee

UCU representatives from right across the northern region are in Brighton discussing the union's priorities and policies for the next period.  Full details of all the motions and the debate can be found at http://www.ucu.org.uk/congress2013

An article by General Secretary, Sally Hunt, prior to the debates can be found here http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/comment/opinion/sally-hunt-time-to-get-our-act-together/2004212.article

The TES/FE Focus report on the debate on FE Pay at Congress can be found here http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6333238

The HE debate on pay and possible industrial action was covered by the "Times Higher Ed" here: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/ucu-moves-closer-to-industrial-action/2004266.article

UCU Northern Region on the October 20th TUC March

The first regional UCU banner up! David Branson (Middlesbrough College) and Liam Carr (Newcastle College) take the strain

The UCU contingent, photo ©Jess Hurd/TUC www.jesshurd.com @jesshurdphoto

Carrying the banner: Jon Bryan (Regional Support Official of UCU) and Ritchie Bathgate (Chair, Gateshead College UCU). Photo by @davethetog http://davethetog.blogspot.co.uk/

David Branson (Middlesbrough College and FE Regional Chair) and Ritchie Bathgate (UCU Chair, Gateshead College)

On the march: Jude Letham (Sunderland College UCU and Regional Secretary), Ian Wilson (Middlesbrough College UCU) and Cath Hepburn (Sunderland College UCU, Regional FE Secretary and NEC member)

Marching for "A Future That Works"

Approaching the Mass Rally in Hyde Park

UCU members, representatives and staff from the Northern Region travelled down to London for the TUC march "A Future That Works" on Saturday 20th October 2012.  Marchers included UCU members from: Carlisle College; Newcastle College; Tyne Met College; Gateshead College; Newcastle University; Northumbria University; Sunderland University; Durham University; Sunderland College; Teesside University; Middlesbrough College.

More on the demonstration can be found here: http://afuturethatworks.org/
Sally Hunt's speech to the TUC Rally is here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6358
Coverage of others travelling from the north east to the TUC rally can be found here: http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/43871

UCU members at Gateshead College take strike action again



Pickets at the Main Baltic Campus, Gateshead College


 

UCU Pickets stay in the warmth of the sunshine - and in the heat of the battle!

 

Reflecting the additional workload and hours of teaching that College Managers are seeking:
"No More Than 25 Hours" of teaching a week

 

UCU Pickets were visited by a former part-time lecturer at Gateshead College, Jean Crocker, who is now on the union's National Executive Committee - holding the LHS of the banner

Chair of UCU at Gateshead College, Richard Bathgate and UCU National President, Kathy Taylor


Gateshead College UCU members were given a boost in their fight against unfair workloads as National President, Kathy Taylor, came to visit their picket lines when they took further strike action on Wednesday 10th October 2012.
 
Kathy Taylor said:

Strike action is a last resort for our members.  Unfortunately, it seems that the College just don't want an agreement with us and that's why UCU is having to take this disruptive action.  Our members want the time to do the job properly and provide the quality education that they know they can deliver.  I salute those who are taking the very difficult decision to take strike action today, and call on the College to sit down and come to a sensible agreement with our UCU representatives at the College.

Pickets were up early again and were at every site of the College, buoyed by the many messages of support from across the region:
 
Julie Young from the Civil Service Union, PCS, said:

Solidarity greetings to all UCU members on strike at Gateshead College today from PCS Northern Region.

Jude Letham, Regional Secretary of UCU said: 

On behalf of UCU members in the Northern Region, may I pass on our hopes for your industrial action on Wednesday being strongly supported and successful.

As you well know, many of your UCU colleagues can fully empathise with your plight; having experienced cuts to salary, threats of redundancy and attacks on terms and conditions.  The issues you are facing with regard to workload have clear implications for jeopardising both the health and well-being of your members and the quality of education they will be able to provide.
 
We are very grateful to you for the stand you are taking to oppose these attacks and maintain quality education.  You have our wholehearted support.  

Mick Sim, Branch Chair of UCU at Tyne Met College said: 

On behalf of the members of the Tyne Met Branch I write to wish you every success in the forthcoming day of industrial action. 

The professionalism of teachers and lecturers within FE sector is continuing to be undermined with the insidious replacement of lecturers with assessors, instructors and facilitators. This is nothing less than the institutional introduction of education on the cheap in order to reduce costs. 

The fact that your members have stated that they feel their skills and experience have been ignored and the talents of lecturers are not being valued, demonstrates the passion they feel towards delivering the best possible education for students now and into the future. There is a real potential for a dilution of the quality of the learner experience and a general decline in educational standards if the policy of changing terms and conditions of service within the FE sector continues for financial expediency. 

You have the full support of this Branch in your endeavours to preserve the professionalism of your members. It is incumbent on all of us within the sector to resist these short-sighted and foolhardy changes.

Tony Dowling, NUT representative said:

Solidarity to Gateshead College UCU lecturers striking again today against appalling pay cuts and attacks on conditions!

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) Newcastle Amal branch http://www.cwunewcastleamal.org/ said:

Support and solidarity to Gateshead College lecturers today

Solidarity greetings were also received from NESSN http://nessn.org.uk/ and many others, including a message from the President of the Open University Branch of UCU, Roger Walters, "to extend this branch's support to you in your battle against what appears by any stretch of the imagination to be appalling local management" hoping that "the firm action by members persuades the local management to come to its senses and negotiate an acceptable way forward".
 
Meanwhile, the Principal had decided, whilst he was away on business in the Far East, that his best efforts on the day would be served by writing an online letter to students, rather than trying to resolve the dispute.  See http://www.gateshead.ac.uk/news/2012/october/response-from-principal,-richard-thorold,-to-ucu-action/
 
Online coverage of this week's strike and the reasons for it can be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-19882962
http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/news/16075-de-skilled-de-motivated-demoralised-gateshead-college-lecturers-strike-back
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6350
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=29758
http://pakedu.net/world-education/gateshead-college-lecturers-will-take-strike-action/

Details of Previous Action:
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/gateshead-college-lecturers-on-strike.html
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/gateshead-college-lecturers-take-strike.html
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/ucu-members-at-gateshead-college-take.html
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/gateshead-college-ucu-members-show.html

 
 

Gateshead College Lecturers on strike at the start of the new term

UCU Pickets at the main Baltic Campus

Pickets at Gateshead College Skills Academy, Team Valley Trading Estate

Lecturers at Gateshead College took to the picket lines this morning to protest once again over a dispute about conditions of service.  The dispute continues as a deal on workload and working conditions has yet to be agreed.

The College have downgraded some lecturers to "facilitators", many on the picket line feeling that their skills and experience have been ignored.  "The talents of our lecturers are just not being valued", was a comment expressed by many.

There was good support at all picket lines.  At the Skills Academy, many drivers showed their support by beeping their horns as they drove along the Kingsway.  When the Police turned up, Jon Bryan (Regional Support Official for UCU) spoke to them about the action and why UCU members were on strike.  The Officer explained that our strike action had been "logged" by the College and so they came down to investigate.  One of the pickets commented - "Its good that it's having an effect!"

There was some consternation on the picket lines when members were told that the Principal was on business in the Far East.  "Perhaps he should be paying more attention to issues that are closer to home", was a common view being expressed.

Ritchie Bathgate, Chair of the UCU Branch at Gateshead College said:

Members have shown great resolve by voting again for strike action in pursuit of an agreement on workload which we believe will protect the quality of education we deliver.  We will continue this dispute until we have a deal that we can all sign up to.

A further strike by UCU members has been called for Wednesday 10th October 2012.

For more details on this long-running dispute:
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/gateshead-college-lecturers-take-strike.html
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/gateshead-college-ucu-members-show.html

2nd Remploy Strike - supported by UCU, Gateshead MP Ian Mearns and many more!

Gateshead MP Ian Mearns (centre) at the Remploy Picket Line, along with Joyce McAndrew (UCU Regional Support Official) and other supporters - including Gateshead Councillors Martin Gannon and Angela Douglas


Workers at Remploy who are members of the GMB and UNITE unions were on strike again today, and one of the picket lines at their factory on Dukesway, Team Valley, Gateshead, was visited by Joyce McAndrew from UCU, Ian Mearns, MP and many others.

The strike is over the threat to closure and the consequent loss of livelihood and more details of the dispute (and the action from last week) can be found here:
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/ucu-shows-it-support-for-workers-on.html

Val Scott, Regional Organiser for GMB, is asked what we can do to help:

by sending messages of support through the links of the remploy workers website at www.remployworkers.info follow the links to Facebook and twitter or sign the petition to save remploy factories at www.saveremployfactories.co.uk

Val also tells us about the background to this dispute:

Remploy workers have participated in a ballot for industrial action which was overwhelmingly accepted. There is currently a continuous ban on overtime and 2 days of strike action on Thursday 19th and Thursday 26th July 2012.

There are currently 52 Remploy factories in the UK, 7 of which are based in the Northern Region. We are outraged at the decision taken by the Government to close 27 of the 36 Remploy factories in the phase 1 closure programme which include the factories at Spennymoor, Gateshead, Newcastle, Ashington and Cleator Moor (Sunderland is part of phase 2 and Barrow has a potential buyer).

On Thursday 5th July 2012 the Company announced to the workforce they were considering the alternative business plan submitted by the Consortium of Trade Unions (GMB, Unite, Community and Aspect), and then on Tuesday 10th July 2012  they announced to the workforce the closure of their sites without informing the Trade Unions that formal consultation had been brought to an end. They did not give us the opportunity of making representations on behalf of Remploy workers and had total disregard for the whole consultation process.

The strike action taken by Remploy workers is done on a two fold basis, which includes the disgraceful way they have conducted the consultations in having total disregard of any proposals put forward by the trade Unions, and secondly the package on offer to disabled workers has been significantly reduced from the Voluntary package on offer in 2011 which will mean those workers compulsory redundant who are highly unlikely to secure alternative employment in the current climate are at least £5,000 worse off.

UCU sent doughnuts to the picket line at Team Valley, which seemed to go down well, according to Ian Mearns' Twitter feed @IanMearnsMP:

At the factory gate where we have just received a solidarity visit from UCU members bearing doughnuts https://twitter.com/IanMearnsMP/status/228411217109213184/photo/1