Category Archives: Democracy

Open Letter response to VC

Prof R Van de Noort Vice Chancellor University of Reading Whiteknights House Reading RG6 6UR                                                                                                             30th March 2022                                                                                                             London Dear Robert, As a trade unionist (member of UCU’s National Executive Committee as well as the Reading UCU branch), I am writing this open letter to you, to draw your attention to grave concernsContinue reading “Open Letter response to VC”

Where did the £5 million go?

Executive summary The required savings stated in the “Final Proposal” – to be paid for by wage cuts and changes in terms and conditions – are £5 million more than the figure the RUCU President’s blog suggests was agreed upon by the consultation group. Why are RUCU members being asked to vote on a dealContinue reading “Where did the £5 million go?”

Learning Capture: on Recordings and Redundancies

The University of Reading recently released its Policy for the Recording and Digital Delivery of Teaching in 2020/21. The Policy requires staff to participate in learning capture – departing from Reading’s prior ‘opt-in’ approach – and makes failure to follow the Policy a disciplinary offence. All academic staff at the University of Reading should beContinue reading “Learning Capture: on Recordings and Redundancies”

Majority of RUCU Committee rejects proposal

Between 18th September and 9th October Reading UCU members will be balloted on whether they accept the Consultation Group’s Final Proposal. If accepted, the university will implement a three-year pay freeze and pay cuts for all employees earning over c.£18,000 per year, including part-time workers earning that on a pro rata rate. As the majorityContinue reading “Majority of RUCU Committee rejects proposal”

Statement on RUCU Branch Democracy

On Monday 20th July Reading UCU held an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) where a motion entitled ‘A Jobs First approach for Reading UCU’ was debated and passed by members. Both the EGM and the motion sought to determine Reading UCU’s response to the University of Reading’s decision to issue a ‘section 188 letter’ on 16thContinue reading “Statement on RUCU Branch Democracy”

Statement of Issues with RUCU Survey

Issues and concerns regarding RUCU all-member survey 28-31 July 2020  On Tuesday 28 July, ReadingUCU issued an all-member survey closing on 31 July 2020. The survey which was NOT approved by the branch committee, and which the majority of branch committee members neither reviewed nor contributed to before circulation, purported to inform the RUCU negotiators’Continue reading “Statement of Issues with RUCU Survey”

Motion to Reading UCU: Branch Democracy

RUCU (representing grades 6 and above in collective consultation) is the recognised trade union that can come to agreement with the University in relation to the proposed cuts. We are concerned there have been serious breaches of process within RUCU, that undermine democracy because they present members with misleading, incorrect and incomplete information on whichContinue reading “Motion to Reading UCU: Branch Democracy”

Motion: Alternative Negotiating Strategy for Reading UCU

RUCU (representing grades 6 and above in collective consultation) is the recognised trade union that can come to agreement with the University in relation to the proposed cuts. We are concerned there have been serious breaches of process within RUCU, that undermine democracy because they present members with misleading, incorrect and incomplete information on whichContinue reading “Motion: Alternative Negotiating Strategy for Reading UCU”