USS PENSION DISPUTE

Mae eich pwyllgor lleol yn credu fod y newidiadau a gynigir gan y Fforwm Pensiynau Cyflogwyr (EPF) yn cynrychioli yr ymosodiad mwyaf difrifol ar ein telerau ac amodau ers blynyddoedd lawer.

Os bydd y newidiadau hyn yn mynd drwodd, byddant yn barhaol
Unwaith y bydd eich buddion pensiwn wedi mynd, byddan nhw wedi mynd am byth.

• Mae’r golled potensial i bensiynau’n enfawr
  Mae aelodau yn sefyll i golli cymaint â 28% o’u budd-daliadau ymddeol – mae hynny’n golygu miloedd o bunnoedd y flwyddyn.
• Mae hyn yn effeithio ar bawb
  Ar gyfer aelodau hirsefydlog y cynllun pensiwn, mae budd-daliadau cyflog terfynol yn wynebu’r fwyell; mae aelodau mwy diweddar yn wynebu’r posibiliad o gael eu budd-daliadau ymddeol wedi eu torri, gyda’r aelodau mwyaf diweddar yn wynebu’r pensiynau gwaethaf o bawb.
• Mae angen llaw gref ar ein negodwyr
  Ni fydd y cyflogwyr yn gwybod pa mor ddifrifol yr ydym yn cymryd y mater hwn oni bai ein bod yn anfon ein negodwyr i drafodaethau â mandad cryf o blaid gweithredu diwydiannol.
  
  Rydym yn credu fod y newidiadau hyn yn ymosodiad diangen ar ein pensiynau – a’ch ffyniant yn y dyfodol.
  
  Mae’r USS yn ddiddyled. Bydd y cynigion presennol yn taro staff yn galed.

Your local committee believes that the changes proposed by the Employers Pensions Forum (EPF) represent the gravest attack on our terms and conditions for many years.

·         If these changes go through, they will be permanent
Once your pension benefits are gone, they’re gone forever

·         The potential loss of pensions is huge
Members stand to lose as much as 28% of their retirement benefits – that’s thousands of pounds a year

• This affects everyone
  For longer-standing members of the pension scheme, final salary benefits are facing the axe; newer members face the prospect of their retirement benefits being slashed, with the newest facing the worst pensions of all
• Our negotiators need a strong hand
  The employers will only know how seriously we take this issue if we send our negotiators to talks with a strong mandate for industrial action

We believe that these changes are an unnecessary assault on our pensions – and your future prosperity. 

USS is solvent. The current proposals will hit staff hard.

Mary J Ferrie

UCU Organising Officer

Aberystwyth University

01970 621519

Cynhelir Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol y gymdeithas leol am 12 ganol dydd ar 25 Mehefin, 2014, yn Ystafell Parti Clwb Cymdeithasol Brynamlwg. Yn ystod y cyfarfod hwn, bydd adroddiadau yn cael eu rhoi gan swyddogion etholedig, a byddwch yn cael y cyfle i ethol swyddogion a hefyd i godi materion eraill. Os ydych am ychwanegu eitemau eraill at yr agenda, anfonwch e-bost at: ucu-aber@aber.ac.uk.

Cymdeithas leol UCU

The local association AGM will be held at 12noon on the 25^th June 2014 in the party room Brynamlwg social club. During this meeting reports will be given by elected officers, and you will have the opportunity to elect officers and also raise other issues. Should you wish to have any items added to the agenda please email them to: ucu-aber@aber.ac.uk

The UCU local association

Final Salary Pension Scheme for Support Staff

Mae Cymdeithas Leol UCU yn gresynu at y cynnig gan Brifysgol Aberystwyth i gau cynllun pensiwn cyflog terfynol staff cynorthwyol (AUPAS) a’i ddisodli â chynllun cyfraniadau llawer mwy israddol y byddant yn cyfrannu llai na hanner y gyfradd a delir i USS ar hyn o bryd yn achos staff academaidd a swyddi graddau uwch, ato. Mae llawer o’r staff yr effeithir arnynt eisoes yn ennill cyflog isel, a gallai cael gwared ar eu budd daliadau cyflog terfynol eu gorfodi i dlodi wrth iddynt ymddeol.”

“The UCU Local Association deplores the proposal by Aberystwyth University  to close the support staff final salary pension scheme (AUPAS) and replace it with a much inferior defined contribution scheme to which they will contribute less than half the rate currently paid to USS for academic and more senior grades. Many of the affected staff are already on very low pay and the removal of their final salary pensions benefits could force them into poverty on retirement.”

Annwyl Aelod,

Cyflog Teg mewn Addysg. Cyfarwyddiadau ar gyfer y Boicot Marcio.

Efallai y bydd cydweithwyr yn dymuno ymgyfarwyddo â chynnwys y ddogfen UCU hon wrth baratoi at y boicot marcio a fydd yn cael eu gweithredu o 28 Ebrill os na fydd y cyflogwyr yn fodlon dod i gytundeb trwy negodi a fydd yn dderbyniol i’r Undeb. Gallwch gael hyd i’r ddogfen ym.

Dear Member,

Fair Pay in Education.  Instructions for the Marking Boycott.

Colleagues may wish to familiarize themselves with the contents to this UCU document  in preparation for the marking boycott which will be operating from April 28^th if the employers are unwilling to reach a settlement through negotiation which is acceptable to the Union You can find this document here

Mary J Ferrie BSc (Anrhydedd)/(Hons.)

UCU Aberystwyth Organising Officer

Blog:  http://aberucu.blogspot.com/

www: http://www.aber.ac.uk/ucu-aber/  

E: ucu-aber@aber.ac.uk

Hotmail: ucu-aber@hotmail.co.uk

Twitter: @aberucu

Facebook: aber ucu

Join/Ymunwch ag UCU @ http://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Robert John Wootton

Robert John Wootton

Bydd Aelodau yn drist iawn i glywed am farwolaeth Bob Wootton. Yn ogystal â’i yrfa hir a nodedig mewn ymchwil ac addysgu yn Adran Swoleg Coleg Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth, ac wedyn yn IBERS, bu Bob yn aelod gweithgar o gymdeithas leol yr AUT (Cymdeithas Athrawon Prifysgol), rhagflaenydd UCU. Hoffai’r gymdeithas leol estyn ei chydymdeimlad at wraig Bob, Maureen, ei blant Sean a Siobhan ac at ei wyrion, Alfie a Ella. Rydym yn gwerthfawrogi’n fawr iawn ymrwymiad Bob i addysgu, i’r sefydliad ac i’r gymdeithas leol, a gwelwn eisiau ei gyfraniad.

Robert John Wootton

Members will be saddened to hear of the death of Bob Wootton. In addition to his long and distinguished career in research and teaching in the Department of Zoology in The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and subsequently IBERS, Bob was an active member of the local association of the AUT (Association of University Teachers), the predecessor to the UCU. The local association would like to pass on its condolences to Bob's wife, Maureen, his children Sean and Siobhan and to his grandchildren Alfie and Ella. We are deeply appreciative of Bob's commitment to teaching, to the institution and to the local association and will miss his contribution.

Mary J Ferrie BSc (Anrhydedd)/(Hons.)

Swyddog Trefnu UCU Organising Officer

Ystafell Room C63 Hugh Owen Building

Prifysgol Aberystwyth University

Ffôn/Tel No: 01970 621519

Oriau swyddfa: dydd Llun a dydd Iau – 9 y.b. tan 4.30 y.h.

Office hours are Mondays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 4.30p.m.

UCU Aberystwyth

Blog:  http://aberucu.blogspot.com/

www: http://www.aber.ac.uk/ucu-aber/  

E: ucu-aber@aber.ac.uk

Hotmail: ucu-aber@hotmail.co.uk

Twitter: @aberucu

Facebook: aber ucu

Join/Ymunwch ag UCU @ http://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Want additional support? The College and University Support Network (Recourse) offersUCUmembers a range of services - from factsheets to counselling.

Access these services online http://recourse.org.uk/ or through the 24/7 telephone support line, Freephone 0808 8020304

E-bost Arolwg Cenedlaethol o Fyfyrwyr - ymateb UCU Aber

(Saesneg - English)

Mae holl staff y Brifysgol wedi derbyn e-bost gan yr Is-ganghellor yn ddiweddar ynghylch yr Arolwg Cenedlaethol o Fyfyrwyr. Dyma’r ymateb yr ydym ni wedi ei yrru ati hi. Rhoir unrhyw ymateb yma, os cawn ni ymateb.

Annwyl April,

Croesawn y newyddion diweddaraf a anfonwyd gennych at yr holl staff yn sgil cyhoeddi ffigurau’r Arolwg Cenedlaethol o Fyfyrwyr. Cytunwn ei bod hi’n achos pryder fod y Brifysgol wedi disgyn yn y tabl, ond rydym yn sicr y byddwch yn cytuno fod hyn yn offeryn braidd yn ddi-fin ar gyfer mesur perfformiad staff. Felly, tra ymunwn â chi’n llongyfarch yr adrannau hynny sydd wedi llwyddo i gynyddu lefelau boddhad eu myfyrwyr, rydym hefyd yn cydnabod ymdrech yr holl staff ar draws y Brifysgol p’un a yw’r ymdrechion hynny’n cael eu hadlewyrchu yn yr Arolwg Cenedlaethol o Fyfyrwyr neu beidio.

Rydym yn sicr nad canlyniadau’r Arolwg Cenedlaethol o Fyfyrwyr yw unig yrrwr cynllunio buddsoddi, a bod barn myfyrwyr a staff yr un mor bwysig wrth lunio cynllunio buddsoddi. Croesawn y cynnydd mewn buddsoddiad yn y Brifysgol, gan gynnwys ei hystadau a’i hisadeiledd, sydd er budd y staff a’r myfyrwyr, cyhyd ag y bo lefel y buddsoddiad yn gynaladwy er mwyn dyfodol y Brifysgol.

Mae yna rai pwyntiau y tynnwyd ein sylw atynt yn eich e-bost, a hoffem fynegi ein barn arnynt:

1.       Mae blaengynllunio’n hanfodol ar gyfer dyfodol y Brifysgol, a chredwn mai diffyg blaengynllunio a arweiniodd at y problemau y gellid bod wedi eu hosgoi llynedd. Rydym yn falch fod gwersi gwerthfawr wedi eu dysgu.

2.       A gyhoeddwyd cynlluniau trafnidiaeth i/o Lanbadarn i’r campysau eraill? Os felly ble? A pha gamau sydd wedi eu cymryd i wella diogelwch y rhai sy’n seiclo a cherdded rhwng y dref a’r campws a rhwng y campysau?

3.       I ba raddau (a ym mha ffordd) yr ymgynghorwyd â staff yn ystod llunio’r Cynllun Cyfalaf Projectau, a gyhoeddir yn fuan?

4.       Beth fydd cynrychiolaeth y staff ar y grŵp Gwella Profiad Myfyrwyr, y bwriedir ei gynnull?

5.       Yn ddiweddar, syrthiasom o’r 133^ain i’r 135^ain safle yng Nghynghrair y Bobl a’r Blaned Werdd ar gyfer prifysgolion. Mae Bangor yn 20^fed tra mai ni yw’r isaf trwy Gymru. A gawn ni ymateb manwl i’r ffaith drist hon? Dylai Prifysgol Aberystwyth fod yn arwain y ffordd yn y maes hwn ac ystyried ymchwil Sefydliad Daearyddiaeth a Gwyddorau’r Ddaear (IGES) a Sefydliad y Gwyddorau Biolegol, Amgylcheddol a Gwledig (IBERS) i allyriadau carbon a newid hinsawdd. Mae’n anffodus nodi ein bod ni’n un o brif gyfranwyr i gynhesu byd-eang ymhlith prifysgolion y Deyrnas Gyfunol, ac ymddengys mai ni sydd leiaf pryderus i wneud iawn am hyn, er gwaethaf ein hymchwil gwerthfawr i’r maes hwn.

Edrychwn ymlaen at eich ymateb i’r pwyntiau hyn, ac i barhau deialog gadarnhaol gyda chi a Phwyllgor Gwaith y Brifysgol.

Yr eiddoch,


Am y Pwyllgor Gwaith UCU

National Student Survey Email - UCU Response

All University staff recently received an email from the Vice-Chancellor regarding the results of the national Student Survey. The local executive responded to the email as set out below. We will let you know if we get a reply.

Dear April,

 We welcome the update from you sent to all staff in the light of the publication of the NSS figures. We agree that it is regrettable that the University has dropped in the table, but we are sure you will agree that this is a somewhat blunt instrument for measuring the performance of staff. So while we join with you in congratulating those departments who have managed to increase their overall satisfaction rating, we also recognise the efforts of all staff across the University whether those efforts have been reflected in the NSS or not.

 We are sure that results in the NSS are not the sole drivers for investment plans, and the views of current students and staff are at least as important in shaping investment planning. We welcome the increased investment in the University and its estate and infrastructure which are to the benefit of staff and students, as long as the level of investment is sustainable for the future of the University.

 There some other points that you brought to our attention in your email and we would like to comment on these:

 1.    Forward planning is essential to the future of the University and it is our view that it was a lack of forward planning that led to the avoidable problems with the timetable last year. We are glad to see that valuable lessons have been learnt.

 2.    Have detailed plans for the transport to/from Llanbadarn to other campuses been published? If so where? And what steps have been taken to improve the security and safety of those cycling and walking between the town and the campus, and between campuses?

 3.     To what extent (and by what means) were staff consulted during the drawing up of the Capital Projects Plan, which be published shortly?

 4.     What will be the recognised staff representation on the Student Experience and Enhancement group which is to be convened?

5.   We recently dropped from 133rd to 135^th in the People and Planet Green League for Universities. Bangor are 20^th and we are the lowest in Wales. Can we please have a detailed response to this sad fact? AU should be leading the way in the area, given IGES and IBERS research into carbon emissions and Climate Change and it is unfortunate to see that we are major contributors to global warming amongst the Universities of the UK, and apparently among the least concerned to put this right, despite our valuable research in the area.


We look forward to your responses to these points, and to a continuing positive dialogue with you and the executive of the University.