The UNISON Branch Blog, created for the members of UNISON that work at Liverpool John Moores University.
Monday, 26 September 2022
Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Monday, 19 September 2022
UNISON@LJMU Press Release
Members of the Media Communications, please find the link to download the UNISON@LJMU Branch Press Release HERE.
Sunday, 18 September 2022
Saturday, 17 September 2022
Friday, 16 September 2022
Thursday, 15 September 2022
Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Tuesday, 13 September 2022
Vice-Chancellor's Response
Unison industrial action
Dear all
I am writing to update all staff that yesterday we were served with a formal notice of industrial action from Unison with confirmation that they will be calling for their members to strike on Monday 26th September, which is the first day of teaching for many of our students. Unison have also identified 4th October and 11th October as additional strike days.
This is extremely disappointing, and I was particularly shocked that the notice was served as we begin a period of national mourning when we are urging our communities to come together with respect and compassion.
As a university, we are part of national pay negotiations by which we are bound and prevent us from setting our own annual pay award. It is worth noting that we tried to influence the outcome of the negotiations at every step and also that all of our recognised trades unions have expressed a preference to remain in the national pay negotiations. The national award of 3% was paid to all staff in August.
Just last week I wrote to all staff with the announcement that we are making provision to pay staff a one-off sum of up to £1,000 for the lowest paid staff which represents a double digit increase for staff on the lowest grades.
At LJMU we have always been a fair and supportive employer, throughout the entire pandemic we supported every single member of staff, regardless of individual roles and we have introduced hybrid working as standard practice across the university which makes this a particularly dismaying response from Unison.
We will assemble a set of principles for staff to consider in advance of strike action and this will be communicated shortly. From this moment though, no member of staff may book leave for the days above – if leave has already been booked and approved we will honour that commitment with no detriment, and hybrid working will be suspended in the lead up to and on the planned strike days.
I am sorry to have to bring you this news. We will of course have contingency arrangements in place to make sure that the planned days of action don’t disrupt the experience of our students and have minimum impact on the rest of the staff.
Best wishes
Mark
Professor Mark Power
Vice-Chancellor
and Chief Executive
Monday, 12 September 2022
Monday, 5 September 2022
Branch E-News - Issue 45
Thursday, 1 September 2022
Monday, 29 August 2022
Monday, 8 August 2022
Thursday, 4 August 2022
Clarification
Dear Members,
You will have seen by now the latest Staff Comms from LJMU, with regard to the Higher Education Pay Award for 2022/23.
UNISON and UNISON@LJMU are still in dispute with UCEA and LJMU regarding this issue, we are still urging members to participate in the ballot for industrial action. Just because the pay award offered will be imposed on staff from the 1st August, doesn’t mean the issue is concluded.
The large increase in the pay for lower grades is only due to changes for the National Minimum Wage. All other grades will only receive around 3%, you are all worth a lot more than this.
Please remember to take part in the Industrial Action Ballot. UNISON in Higher Education is asking you to vote YES!
The choice is entirely yours and the ballot is confidential. No matter how you vote, we urge members to return your ballot paper in the pre-paid envelope in the post by no later than the 24th August, so it arrives in time for the noon deadline on the 26th.
Thank you for your continuing support.
UNISON@LJMU
More information can be found at:
www.unison.org.uk/wereworthmore
Tuesday, 2 August 2022
Monday, 1 August 2022
Friday, 29 July 2022
Strike Pay - UPDATE
We are at last able to release some important information to you that may help with your decision to support the Industrial Action Ballot over the Higher Education Pay Claim 2022/23.
Here is a short quote from the Chair of the UNISON Industrial Action Committee:
"On behalf of the Industrial Action Committee, I can confirm our standing policy is to pay £50 per day strike pay (or full take home pay if this is less) from day one of any properly authorised strike action (subject to sufficient resources being available in the national UNISON Industrial Action Fund)".
Sandy
Nicoll, IAC Chair”
Just to expand on this:
Previously strike pay was only £25 per day, and you could only start claiming it on the 3rd day of prolonged Industrial Action (not one day actions). This means there will be less of a financial burden on you each day you participate in the strike. First we need you to vote YES! so that our branch meets the voting threshold. We know it’s a difficult time to lose some money out of your pay, that is why this change has been pushed forward at the highest levels of UNISON to assist you our members.
Everyone is feeling the pinch of the current financial climate. The Retail Price Index is currently at 10%+ and is ever-increasing. Our current Pay offer is 3%, well below the RPI.
If we work together shoulder to shoulder to fight for an improved pay offer that is not in real terms another pay cut. Then together we can make a difference. It’s been 13 years since the Higher Education sector has had a real pay rise. Together, it’s time to make a stand and say no more. If not now, then when?
Vote YES for Industrial Action. Return your ballot paper in the free post envelope ahead of the deadline of 26th August.
Just for information, no date has yet to be set, but this ballot is taking place now so that if we meet the threshold the industrial action will take place at the start of the term.
For more information visit:
www.unison.org.uk/wereworthmore
Thank you for your continuing support.
UNISON@LJMU
Monday, 25 July 2022
Ballot 2022
Thursday, 21 July 2022
Join UNISON for Pride in Liverpool 2022
UNISON@PRIDE - YES!!! Liverpool Pride is back and UNISON will be there supporting our LGBT+ Members, Allys and the local community. Come along and join the fun and show support in flying the flags.
Monday, 18 July 2022
Don't believe the noise
Join us. Stand Together. Because we know it can be better than this.
Thursday, 14 July 2022
Final Pay Dispute Meeting
Dear UNISON Members,
At the final dispute meeting this morning the employers failed to make an improved offer on pay. This mean the offer remains the same as previous emails which is 3% from spinal point 20 and above. In real terms is a pay cut given that this fails to match any measure of inflation.
Realistically, this means the only way we are going to get anything near a decent pay award, is to force the employers back to the negotiating table. That means voting YES, for strike action in the forthcoming industrial action ballot which opens on Friday 22nd of July.
By law we need to get above the 50% threshold of members to participate in the ballot. Then we need to get above the 50% voting threshold for the YES vote, in order to get lawful industrial action.
Please use your vote. Vote for strike action. We're worth more, we can't afford less.
Wednesday, 13 July 2022
Monday, 11 July 2022
Tuesday, 5 July 2022
WEBINAR - HE Pay Campaign 2022 – Branch Briefing
Dear Members, We would like to invite you to a branch briefing webinar regarding the up-and-coming Pay Campaign. UNISON HQ will be holding a webinar to brief branches on the HE pay dispute and campaign plan to get out the vote on the strike ballot. The webinar will take place on Thursday 7th July from 12:30-13:30 and will be held on Zoom. All branch activists from higher education branches or other branches with higher education members are welcome. | |||||
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Mandela Week 20th - 23rd July
Mandela8 will be hosting a series of events for Mandela week. This includes guest speakers (including the Mandela family), a dinner, live music and more.
all tickets can be purchased at https://linktr.ee/mandela8