UCU Northern Region Podcast
By UCU Northern Region
UCU Northern Region PodcastMar 02, 2021
Industrial Action in December 2022 - voices from the picket lines
More details on the disputes that are mentioned in this episode can be found here:
UNITE at Shelter: www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2022/december/shelter-strike-suspended-following-improved-offer
RCN in Newcastle: www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/events/151222-the-newcastle-upon-tyne-hospitals-nhs-foundation-trust
GMB, Baker Hughes, Newcastle upon Tyne: www.gmbneyh.org.uk/more_than_200_newcastle_energy_workers_over_miserly_pay_offer
RMT Strikes: www.rmt.org.uk/news/picket-line-details-december-13
Darlington College UCU: www.ucu.org.uk/article/12629/Staff-to-strike-at-Darlington-College
Furness College UCU: www.ucu.org.uk/article/12635/Furness-College-staff-to-strike-over-low-pay
Pay and Industrial Action in Further Education: Strikes and Pickets at Newcastle College; Balloting for Action at Darlington College
This episode contains an extract from a speech by Neil Stockton, Branch Chair at Darlington College. It also has extracts from an interview given by the Branch Secretary at Newcastle College, Emma Campbell. Finally, there is an interview on a lively picket line at Newcastle College where one of those on strike tell BBC Radio Newcastle what the issues are. Be warned, this last interview is from a noisy picket line which the Branch had dubbed "Wild Wednesday".
People's Assembly, Darlington
Coverage: www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23103801.we-members-cant-heat-homes-darlington-protestors-demand-general-election/
Full Speeches: www.facebook.com/thenorthernecho/videos/830444605077178
Darlington College UCU Press Release on Ballot for Industrial Action on Pay: www.ucu.org.uk/article/12597
YouTube Story about Newcastle College Strike Action: youtu.be/xVy4Oae6qhs
Pay and Industrial Action in Further Education
In this episode, we cover current industrial action in further education, as well as a look back at previous disputes and what we can learn from them. UCU Regional Support Official, Jon Bryan, speaks to UCU representatives at Carlisle College (Matthew Cookson) and Emma Campbell from Newcastle College. They tells us about their current action, and we also hear from people on the picket line. This episode also includes an introduction that Jon Bryan recently gave to a meeting of the Socialist Education Association (North) on current and previous industrial action across the FE sector.
Branch President of Durham University UCU, Sol Gamsu, talks about the last 12 months and the future.
Low Pay in the FE Sector and the dispute and Industrial Action Ballot at Furness College
A local dispute about job roles and contracts at Northumbria University - March 2022.
Industrial Action: Strike, Ballots, Action short of a strike
October Round Up of News and Views
A conversation with a UCU representative about how you can help a member who has transitioned.
September 2021: The start of a new academic year
Negotiating - simple steps for Trade Union Reps
The basics (and top tips!) for representing trade union members
WORKING FROM HOME. What advice should the union give to members and Reps?
Supporting the mental health needs of UCU members
We speak to Dr. Jonathan Saha about Myanmar
International Women’s Day - 8 March 2021
Equality work at Northumbria University UCU and Anti-Casualisation work at Newcastle University UCU
An interview with Dr Marek Szablewski to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2021
New advice from UCU as Lockdown 3.0 begins
Looking back at Further Education in 2020 - and what to expect in 2021
How Northumbria University UCU broke through the industrial action ballot threshold
UCU wins its strike ballot at Northumbria University
Workload
UCU reacts to the announcement that 770 students at Northumbria University have Covid-19
Face Coverings in Further Education Colleges and the local lockdown in the north east
The issues surrounding on-campus working and teaching at Northumbria University as a new academic year begins
Jon Bryan speaks with Adam Hansen, from UCU at Northumbria University
Tackling the educational and industrial issues in Colleges and Universities thrown up by Covid-19 and the return to campus
In this episode, we speak to the UCU Northern Regional Secretary, Emma-Jane Phillips, and Regional FE Secretary Jo Potts.
We discuss workload implications for our members about working online and delivering "blended learning", as well as what all of this means for staff and learners as the new academic year begins.
Returning to work; back on campus; and Individual Risk Assessments for members with concerns
As Colleges start to re-open their doors to staff and students, Jon Bryan and Joyce McAndrew talk about Risk Assessments. In this episode, they focus on members who are either vulnerable, or have specific concerns about returning to work.
What should members look for in an individual risk assessment? And are there other things that representatives and members of the union should be considering? The advice applies to Universities as well, where staff are still largely working at home, but who may see a return to campus in the coming weeks and months.
The impact on College & University staff of exams chaos and the re-opening of Colleges in September
UCU's Ed Bailey talks about using email to organise & communicate with members
In this episode, we reproduce excerpts from Ed Bailey's talk on using email to organise in a trade union from UCU's Webinar - "Digital Organising for UCU activists"
The experiences of some UCU members whilst being on Furlough Leave
How to respond to Colleges re-opening in September 2020
On 2 July 2020, the government published some new guidance:
What FE colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term
In this podcast, Regional Support Officials Jon Bryan and Joyce McAndrew talk about what UCU Representatives and members should be considering in light of this new guidance.
Tips for communicating with UCU members
In this episode, we look at different ways of communicating with UCU members, particularly at a time when everyone can feel isolated under Covid-19 restrictions, and when the workplace is your home.
Jon Bryan, David O'Toole and Sarah Parry give some hints on what you can do about producing newsletters, using email, holding meetings via video-conferencing facilities, and conducting surveys.