UCU at the NHS Together March, 3 November 2007

Michael MacNeil, UCU Assistant General Secretary

Alison Macfarlane and Veronica Killen

Carrying the Cause (and the banner!)

Many of you will have read about the plight of health educators in the recent copy of "UC" magazine with local Rep Veronica Killen. Not one for just words, Veronica is in favour of putting words into action!

Veronica is a senior lecturer in midwifery at Northumbria University, UCU assistant branch secretary in her workplace, and secretary of the union's HE northern region committee. She tells us of the success of last weekend's NHS Together demonstration:

"The march and rally was a great success with over 7000 people. The weather was ideal, lots of speeches and great entertainment. There were representations from all the NHS unions from far and wide."

"It was great to see people there from all ages and walks of life – showing just how important the NHS is to everyone, young and old, abled bodied and not. Staff from all areas of the NHS – from the Homeopathic hospital to community services to intensive care units were there. A great atmosphere!"

Veronica was pleased that amongst the UCU delegation was Michael MacNeil, UCU Assistant General Secretary within the HE team, who was there with his family. Michael will take lead responsibility on a number of key areas including post-92 institutions and Veronica is looking forward to working with him to take the issues of health educators forward.

"I am looking forward to working with Michael" Veronica said, wishing him a warm welcome to the union. "We have a lot of issues which need tackling in health education. Nationally there are job losses, course closures, reduced studnet numbers in spite of the growing population and our increasing health need. It is good to know that Michael will fight with us on tackling cuts in student nursing numbers and the issues facing health educators."

The union will continue to support campaigns which support public services and the public sector. The work with NHS Together is part of that fight.

For more photos from the demo:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7077152.stm

For more on NHS Together and the march:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/theme/index.cfm?theme=nhstogether
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7076231.stm

Newcastle and Stockton flying the flag for ESOL provision on the Day of Action

Surrounding the stall - students and staff sign up

"V" is for Victory!

Vanessa Maughan (UCU Branch Secretary, Newcastle College) supports the campaign

Swamped! Our stall for writing postcards was always busy!

Getting the message across - students write a postcard of protest to the government on ESOL

WEDNESDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 2007 - Day of Action for ESOL

UCU were involved in making sure that people in the North-East remember the importance of ESOL classes and protested about the government changes to funding. Staff and students at Newcastle College across all departments came together to write postcards and sign messages of protest.

There was often not enough room at the stall for people to write their messages. In just two hours the strength of feeling meant that we collected over 350 postcards to send to the government. It was clear that the message was against the changes to the funding of ESOL classes and to allow those who want to learn English language classes to do so. Cost is becoming an issue, as enrolments have shown.

We then took the campaign right to the heart of government - meeting Bill Rammell, Minister of State (Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education), Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (since 13 Jul 2007). He was in Newcastle and agreed to meet us to hear our views and concerns. Jon Bryan, Lecturer at Newcastle College and UCU National Executive member and Sabine Munro from Newcastle College ESOL department, met with Bill Rammell and we read him some of the postcards. He listened to the strength of feeling that had been generated that day. It was a useful meeting where we were able to articulate our concerns about changes to ESOL funding and the impact it was having on the provision at Newcastle College. Mr Rammell stated that he wanted employers to pay more, and there was a clear difference in our beliefs as to whether employers would be willing to pay for migrant workers to learn English. We stated that employers don't have a good track record in this area of training and up-skilling, and that cost was already impacting on the provision and take up of ESOL classes.

In the evening, a "Don't Lose ESOL" meeting took place in Stockton, Teesside. Jon Bryan and Dave O'Toole (Branch Chair, Newcastle College UCU) both spoke at the meeting about the need for free ESOL classes and for the campaign to continue. Other speakers included Helen Weir from Teesside Don't Lose ESOL, Pete Widlinski from the North of England Refugee Service and speakers from the Polish community. It was a lively meeting, with those who have benefited from ESOL classes telling their own stories of what it has meant for them and how being able to speak English means that you can communicate, learn, argue for rights, and integrate.

Both events showed the strength of feeling and the campaign will continue!

City of Sunderland College UCU Campaign to Oppose Compulsory Redundancies

UCU members and Reps gather to show their opposition to the College's proposals

UCU gives the "Thumbs Down!" to redundancies

UCU Branch Reps: Jude Letham and Barry Campbell

Taking the message out to others about job losses

Support for UCU's campaign against redundancies

As soon as City of Sunderland College announced the possibility of compulsory redundancies the UCU Branch began to meet and take action to fight against them.

The news came just a few weeks after the College received accolades for the excellent work of staff and students in achieving extremely high A Level and Vocational exam results and the announcement of plans for a new £8 million building http://www.sunderlandecho.com/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1107&articleid=2125478

Members and Reps of UCU chose a staff development day on 2nd July at City of Sunderland College to show their anger at management proposals to dismiss lecturers and support staff through redundancies, donning T-shirts and badges as part of the protest.

Leaflets were given out to staff explaining the current situation. UCU’s requests to the management to consider options to avoid the redundancies have so far been refused. A number of staff were given awards at a lunchtime meeting with the Principal and the T-shirts would have left senior management and Governors in no doubt that their actions are unacceptable.

In an interview to Sun FM on Tuesday 3rd July, Joyce Harris from the Regional Office spoke out against the propsed job losses. She told listeners that this was "a step backwards" for staff and students as the College management were both reluctant to meet with UCU Reps and to find a resolution to compulsory job losses.

Relevant Links:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2662&from=2601

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1107&articleid=2930933

http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/zopinion-former-index/education/ucu-sunderland-college-lecturers-will-ballot-on-strike-action-over-jobs-threats-$475474.htm

UCU members at Tyne Metropolitan College take the campaign to Stephen Byers

The campiagn to SAVE ESOL has taken many forms in the region. Here, UCU members at Tyne Metropolitan College tell us what they have been doing to influence government policy.

"In the ESOL department here at Tyne Met we encouraged students to write to their local MPs to tell them how the funding cuts will affect them. As a consequence, Stephen Byers offered to come and talk to them and staff (the college is in his constituency). He came and listened to students, assured them he agreed with their views, and said he would raise their concerns with the Secretary of State. He also urged more students to write to him, so their letters could be used in evidence. His personal feeling was that the government should backtrack on this issue, given the contradictions with their integration policy.

On the day Mr Byers was here, the union branch and ESOL staff organised a stall to publicize the ESOL situation within the college (seven out of ten lecturers in the department are due to be redeployed – they don’t know where yet). Staff and students who are not directly involved knew very little about the situation, but we raised a lot of interest – and awareness: we collected hundreds of signatures for the UCU petition and gave out leaflets about the demonstration in Newcastle."


Guy Bainbridge
Andrew Potts



UCU

Tyne Metropolitan College

Don't Lose ESOL! Middlesbrough Campaign update

Jon Bryan (UCU's National Executive)

shows the union's support for ESOL staff and students

David Branson, UCU Branch Chair at Middlesbrough College,

speaks out against government cuts

The protest in Middlesbrough gains support on the streets

DON'T LOSE ESOL!

This was the message on Saturday 3rd March as the campaign took to the streets with a lively march and a rally in Middlesbrough City Centre. The march was part of a week of action with events organised throughout the region to protest at government plans to cut funding for ESOL courses.

Tees Valley World Drummers kept the spirits of marchers high as speakers condemned the government hypocrisy and praised the staff and students for the ESOL classes that have meant so much to so many people.

UCU members from Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Deerbolt Prison Education, and New College Durham all showed their support for the Don't Lose ESOL campaign which continues to gain support amongst MPs, Refugee Groups, and the general public. Speakers from UCU praised the work of staff and students in ESOL classes across Teesside.

Pete Widlinski, North of England Refugee Service told the rally of how ESOL classes have helped many migrants and people seeking asylum integrate into the local community.

Those at the march and rally also went to Lobby Parliament earlier in the week, which drew the attention of the press to our campaign:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=students-fighting-to-save-english-courses&method=full&objectid=18701517&siteid=109975-name_page.html

Helen Weir, Middlesbrough Adult Education Service and Tees Valley Campaign to Save ESOL, has kept the campaign against the cuts in the public eye and spoke out criticising government plans earlier this year:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/heraldandpost/eastcleveland/tm_method=full&objectid=18528055&siteid=109975-name_page.html

Sign the Online Petition to SAVE ESOL:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2014

UCU members take to the streets of Newcastle to protest about ESOL cuts

ESOL Lecturer and UCU member Sue Stewart speaking at the Newcastle Rally

Ruth Crowther from Newcastle College Students' Union shows her support

Staff, students and the public stand up for ESOL courses

Staff, students and supporters made their feelings known to the government on the streets of Newcastle on Saturday 3rd March. The march and rally had been organised with the support of TCAR (Tyneside Community Action for Refugees) - a network of groups and individuals who have united to raise awareness of the situation of people seeking asylum.

Over 200 people were there and speakers included staff, students and representatives of UCU, Barney McGill of the Northern TUC, and speakers from TCAR.

The event attracted both the attention of the Newcastle public and the media:

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaysun/news/sundaysun/tm_method=full&objectid=18704957&siteid=50081-name_page.html

The march and rally sought to draw public attention to propsed changes in ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) provision which the government are seeking to restrict from September 2007.

UCU believes that the existing entitlements should remain unchanged. Take-up of ESOL has risen in recent years and in many cases demand exceeds supply. The changes to ESOL funding mean that for many people with ESOL needs, the cost of paying for courses will shift from the to individuals, unless employers make a contribution. The government thinks employers and migrant worker agencies should pay but there is no mechanism in place to ensure they do.

The campiagn to SAVE ESOL continues and more details can be found at:

www.ucu.org.uk

Want to get involved locally?

jharris@ucu.org.uk

UCU members across the region campaign to SAVE ESOL

UCU members who teach in ESOL departments in Colleges and many of their students went to the Save ESOL lobby of parliament. From the Northern Region Newcastle, Gateshead, Tynemetropolitan, South Tyneside and Middlesbrough Colleges were all well represented.

Over 1,000 staff and students queued in the rain to get into the lobby. Lobby meetings were held both in parliament and in an overflow hall. In the lobby meetings around 40 speakers voiced their support for the 'Save ESOL' campaign. MPs from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties spoke in support and a Green Party MEP sent a message of support. Speakers from many national organisations added their backing and students, tutors, college principals, refugees and union members echoed the demand for the government to review its policy.

Our delegation from the region managed to secure a meeting with the Northern Group of Labour MPs, which proved quite fruitful. Concern was raised that some colleges were already retraining and redeploying staff in advance of final decisions about funding and MPs asked us to provide more information from the region. MPs listened to members concerns and issues and expressed some support for our calls for a re-think.

Local protests on 28th February and our national lobby got some good publicity:

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/chroniclearchive/tm_method=full%26objectid=18687229%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/chroniclearchive/tm_method=full%26objectid=18687209%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

http://www.fenews.co.uk/newsview.asp?n=2276

UCU General Secretary Candidates in Newcastle to debate the issues

Wednesday 24 January
1 – 2pm
Church of St. Thomas the Martyr
Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne

Come and hear the arguments for who you should support in the election

The candidates (Roger Kline, Sally Hunt and Peter Jones) will all be there

For a report on a recent hustings

http://www.thes.co.uk/current_edition/story.aspx?story_id=2034797

UCU National Briefing for FE Branch Officers, November 2006

UCU Branch Officers working in Further, Adult, Prison, and Land-Based Education gathered at The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art for a briefing on issues concerning Equality, Pay and Collective Agreements. Reps from across the Northern Region attended the meeting, which was organised by the Regional Office and attended by key Head Office staff.

Sian Davis (centre) Roger Kline (right)

UCU Branch Officers at the National Briefing

Roger Kline (left) with Barry Lovejoy (right)

Roger Kline, UCU National Head Of Equality and Employment Rights, spoke of the various pieces of Equality legislation which we can use in our collective bargaining agenda: "Ask employers whether they have conducted impact assessments when they are proposing making changes in your College. They very rarely do." Roger explained how the cuts in adult education would hit those who are already disadvantaged and discriminated against and that Branches can use legislation to put pressure on employers.

Sian Davis, Disability Equality Organiser for UCU/UNISON, briefed Reps on the new Disability Equality Duty, which states that all Colleges must now promote disability equality positively, and must draw up plans (in consultation with the trade unions) for how this will be done. The feeling amongst those present was that almost all Colleges had not yet done this.

Barry Lovejoy, National Head of Further Education for UCU, updated Reps on the various collective agreements which the union now has with the Association of Colleges. These can be used as a way for Reps to try and establish good practice in Colleges, and they can be found at http://www.natfhe.org.uk/?id=fued0002

Iain Owens, UCU Northern Regional Official, gave a briefing on the state of play in relation to Pay. Most Colleges in the North-East and Cumbria have reached agreement with UCU on the implementation of the 8-point lecturer scale, but a handful have not. The union has categorised Colleges as red, amber or green. Full details on the Pay campaign can be found at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1909

With close to 30 people at the briefing, it was a success and Barry Lovejoy announced that Head Office staff coming to talk to Reps across the country would continue as the feedback from briefings had been positive.

If you attended the briefing, please leave a comment. Thanks.