Newcastle College Branch Newsletter November 2017 · With Joanne Armstrong – Reiki Healer and Teacher Joanne is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master and alternative therapist. Join

BRANCH SECRETARY ANYA COOK, BRANCH CHAIR JAMES BRYAN November 2017

UCU Newcastle College Branch Newsletter

November 2017

VICKY KNIGHT UCU PRESIDENT-ELECT WITH THE WORKLOAD WORKING GROUP ! IN THIS ISSUE

Vicky Knight visited Newcastle College in September to celebrate the latest win made by the Workload Working Group with Lisa Hamilton-Murray, Assistant Principal.

In covering absence, a limit of 27

hours teaching for no longer than 6

weeks at which point there will be a

formal review of workload has been

set. Those extra hours delivering to

students will, where possible be

deducted from the 860 hours

annualised total.

Lisa Hamilton-Murray has worked

with senior managers and Directors of

School outlining responsibilities in

terms of managing workload as a

Health & Safety priority and setting

new working practises.

Simplified timetables clearly identify

student contact time,

admin/prep/marking and meeting

times enabling managers to quickly

respond to changes, identify

workload risks and manage

intervention before there is an issue.

Vicky Knight said “Congratulations –

this is real progress. Strong,

organised and active branches

deliver for members, so well done to

all concerned on this outcome”.

Lisa Hamilton-Murray has enjoyed

working with UCU on this ongoing

workload project, “I really value the

open communication with UCU. This

is a new way of working and I

appreciate the openness and the

efforts to make this a real working

relationship; working to improve

practice for the benefit of staff and

students in our organisation.”

Vicky Knight, President-Elect Visit

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F

4 YEARS’ FREE UCU MEMBERSHIP

for staff employed on non-lecturing contracts

Page 2

Another Workload Win!

UCU NEWCASTLE COLLEGE BRANCH NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2017 | November 2017

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UCU responded to the AOC 1% pay offer for further education staff

UCU said that the pay recommendation of 1%, or £250 for the lowest paid staff, fails to address the immediate hardship facing dedicated staff in further education. UCU said the offer, made by the Association of Colleges during pay talks last month, is significantly below inflation and fails to address the years of pay suppression endured by staff in colleges.

NEWCASTLE COLLEGE PAY CLAIM

The pay claim was submitted to NCG in October 2017 – Part 1 of the claim is what UCU is bargaining for nationally – details of which are available on www.ucu.org.uk/fepayengland .

Part 2 of the claim is what is submitted locally – YOUR BRANCH led on this work for the other colleges in the Group.

PAY is on the agenda for the next NCG UCU Partnership Meeting in November. Any pay award will be made across the 6 colleges and 2 training providers.

From 1 October UCU opened up FREE MEMBERSHIP for up to 4 years

for colleagues working in Further Education who are employed on support contracts but engaged in curriculum support and delivery.

UCU is offering free membership because nationally, there have

been changes in the way lecturing contracts are allocated and the roles and responsibilities therein are distributed on non-lecturing contracts. This is a cheapening of post-16 education and key to the continuing deprofessionalisation of the sector.

University and College Union is the largest post-16 trade union

for Education Professionals in the world. UCU is recognised by

Higher and Further Education employers at a national level, and officially by NCG for the purposes of negotiating salaries, pay structures and your conditions of employment as well as supporting colleagues through processes such as disciplinary, sickness, capability.

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PAY

UCU FREE MEMBERSHIP Tell your colleagues!!!

http://www.ucu.org.uk/fepayengland


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Branch Officers 17/18 Branch Secretary

Anya Cook [email protected] 07717556926 Higher Education Mentor, Central Support Service Caseworker Negotiator Newcastle College and UCUNCG Partnership National Executive

Branch Chair

James Bryan [email protected] 0191 2266248 Lecturer of Classics and Archaeology, 6th Form College Caseworker Negotiator 6th Form College and UCUNCG Partnership

Treasurer and Equality Rep

Neal Terry [email protected] 07921240098 Safeguarding Officer with E&D Lead, Learner Services Disabled Members Standing Committee

Learning Rep

Donna Walton [email protected] 01912266342 Senior Lecturer Study Skills, Education Services Negotiator UCUNCG Partnership

Health & Safety Reps

Anya Cook [email protected] 07717556926 Higher Education Mentor, Central Support Service Annemarie Mathias [email protected] Programme Leader Adult Maths, Education Services Donna Walton [email protected] 01912266342 Senior Lecturer Study Skills, Education Services

Workload Working Group

Christine Burdon [email protected] Lecturer of Maths, Education Services Anya Cook [email protected] 07717556926 Higher Education Mentor, Central Support Service Tracy Flanagan [email protected] 0191 2004453 Curriculum Leader of Business, HE, HCBS Kerry Lemon [email protected] Programme Leader Children and Young People, HE, HCBS Donna [email protected] 01912266342 Senior Lecturer Study Skills, Education Services

mailto:[email protected]













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Thank you to all the team for their help and support with running the branch and with giving their time to support our members.

Anya Cook is now Branch Secretary – there will be no change to the day to day running of the branch – but she is now the official external point of contact. Please note she has Facility Time for trade union duties on Wednesday and Thursday – these are the best days for members to meet with her.

We say goodbye and thank you to Kevin Graham HE Rep who has moved on to new employment.

We say goodbye and thank you to our Vice Chair Jonny Bussell who is moving to Cleveland College as Head of Drama.

We say thank you to Neal Terry who is stepping down from Secretary to focus on work in the community, but will remain active as Treasurer and Equality Rep.

BRANCH UPDATE

Would you like a “Tea and Cake” event

in your department? Branch Officers are

happy to come along and have a chat

with you and your colleagues about the

issues that affect you, to take time out

and to socialise …. Please email us to

arrange.

6th Form Focus

James Bryan is now Branch Chair and has Facility Time for trade union duties – he is the primary contact for 6th Form colleagues.

James meets with the Principal regularly to negotiate on behalf of members.

Contractual changes to align colleagues in 6th Form to teachers in 6th forms in schools, have been put on hold and have been on hold for 2 years.

There are some discrepancies in teaching delivery hours between members of staff.

Workload has increased through a combination of the homework policy, meetings, increased teaching workload.

The observation window is currently open.


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Vicky Knight Visit

The irrepressible force of nature that is our President-Elect visited Newcastle College and Newcastle 6th Form College in September.

Vicky’s primary intention was to join the Workload Working Group in their meeting with Assistant Principal Lisa Hamilton-Murray. “Workload is a national issue for our FE colleagues and it is good to see progress being made here at Newcastle”.

For Vicky, a former firefighter and now Mental Health Trainer and Trade Union Studies Lecturer, teamwork and a healthy team is everything.

Vicky spent time with members and colleagues in both Newcastle and Newcastle 6th Form Colleges, and was able to take local concerns to her meetings with managers and the Executive. Vicky ensured that what matters on the ground was on her agenda.

Vicky ended her visit by joining the branch reps for supper before heading to London to represent all our interests in the AOC national pay talks the following day.

“It was great to visit such a vibrant FE

branch with engaged members and

activists – great partnership working with

the NUS and a progressive industrial

relations agenda and negotiating team.”

Vicky Knight – UCU President-Elect


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UCU General Secretary

Sally Hunt elected

President TUC 17/18

Sally Hunt has been elected as the new President of the TUC. She will serve in the role for a year, presiding over the 150th Anniversary Congress in Manchester in September 2018 as well as chairing the TUC's general and executive committees. The Trades Union Congress is a federation of over 50 UK trade unions representing 5.6 million working people; trade union members. Commenting on her appointment, Sally Hunt said “It is a huge honour to become the president of TUC, especially as it prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Trade unions are a force for good and exist to support their members. My background is education, which I believe offers the best route for people to control their life and fulfil their potential. As we attempt to deal with the Brexit fall-out, making sure people have a chance to learn new skills has never been more important, and I see unions leading the way in opening up those opportunities.” With Sally as President of the TUC and Vicky Knight chairing the TUC Women’s Committee, UCU and the post-16 education sector will be at the forefront of trade union positioning.

Representing the best interests of members is the most important role your Branch Negotiators have - and there are a number of vehicles for them to take your interests and concerns forward:

Meetings with Principalship

Partnership Meetings with UCU Reps and HR Reps from all 6 colleges in NCG, UCU Officials and Lynne Griffin as Executive Lead

Monthly meetings with Lynne Griffin, Group Director HR and Operations

Regular meetings with individual Directors of Schools

VOICING INTERESTS

UCU Commission for Effective Industrial Action

UCU President Joanna de Groot chairs the commission and she attended the October Northern Regional Meeting. Joanna was discussing with UCU Branch Officials from colleges and universities across the region, the pertinence of contributing to the development of UCU’s national strategy. Members are invited to contribute themselves and can do so via the link on the website: https://www.ucu.org.uk/CEIA

https://www.ucu.org.uk/CEIA


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Guided Meditation Classes

With Joanne Armstrong – Reiki Healer and Teacher

Joanne is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master and alternative therapist. Join

her for a relaxing hour of time and healing for you. First come first served

(with priority for UCU Members) – book with [email protected] .

FREE to UCU Members

£2.00 Non-Members

Wednesdays starting 1st November

4-5pm in Parsons 6.04



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Newcastle College Branch Newsletter November 2017 · With Joanne Armstrong – Reiki Healer and Teacher Joanne is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master and alternative therapist. Join

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