URGENT – defend jobs, workloads and the autonomy of departments at UCL

Yesterday a well-attended emergency meeting of UCL UCU agreed to declare a trade dispute with our employer about the threats to jobs, academic freedom and workloads arising from EASE, part of the UCL “Service Simplification” Programme.

To build an effective campaign to save jobs, prevent increasing workloads and halt further centralisation away from departments, our branch will need to demonstrate that our members are engaged and ready to take action if needed.

We are preparing for a consultative ballot on EASE and its local implications. Please look out for future updates.

Meanwhile – Please vote in the national ballot!

Thanks to anti-union laws, industrial action ballots require at least half of the eligible membership voting, conducted by post independently from the union.

As UCL UCU is the largest union branch of UCU in the UK, every ballot we are part of requires us to campaign to encourage a high turnout.

This is true for the current national ballot over pay and jobs. It will also be true for a local ballot. UCU national office will no doubt scrutinise branch turnout in the national ballot when authorising a local consultative ballot on EASE. 

It is not too late to vote, but time is running out.

• If you have not yet voted, please post your vote TODAY!
• The last safe posting date is tomorrow, Wednesday 26th November. 
• After that date, you may hand-deliver the envelope to Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Rd, London N8 0NW before 5pm on Friday.

Every vote counts! UNISON and UNITE at UCL are also balloting their members.

Remember, the envelope is bright pink! Please don’t let it lie forgotten in your bag!