Bullying in Universities

http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2014/nov/05/bullying-universities-legal-rights

http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/nov/03/why-bullying-thrives-higher-education

Mary J Ferrie

UCU Organising Officer

Aberystwyth University

UPDATE ON USS PENSION DISPUTE

Annwyl Aelod

Byddwch wedi derbyn yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gan Sally Hunt yng nghyswllt yr anghydfod pensiwn USS. Mae hwnnw’n dweud i’r gweithredu diwydiannol yng nghyswllt Cynllun Pensiwn y Prifysgolion (USS) gael ei atal dros dro o heddiw (dydd Iau, 20 Tachwedd, 2014), tan ar ôl cyfarfod y Pwyllgor Negodi ddydd Iau, 15 Ionawr, 2015.
Mae UCU ac UUK wedi cytuno i gyfres o gyfarfodydd negodi rhwng nawr a mis Ionawr.
Cytunodd HEC ar y sail uchod y dylai’r boicot asesu presennol, ynghyd ag unrhyw streicio arfaethedig yn ymwneud â thocio tâl cosbol, gael ei atal ar unwaith tan 16 Ionawr 2015.
Cytunodd HEC hefyd petai unrhyw gamau dilynol gan UCU y flwyddyn nesaf yn denu tocio cyflog gosbol, yna byddai yna streic genedlaethol yn dilyn.

Gan hynny, mae’r cyfarfod amserlen Anghydfod, a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer heddiw yn swyddfa’r Undeb ar y cyd, wedi ei ganslo.

Dymuniadau gorau,

Dear Member

You will have received an update from Sally Hunt in connection with the USS pension dispute.  This outlines that the industrial action in relation to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)

has been suspended as from today (Thursday 20^th November 2014), until after the Joint Negotiating committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 15^th January 2015.

Both UCU and UUK have agreed to a series of negotiating meetings between now and January. 

HEC agreed on the above basis that the current boycott of assessment and any planned  strike action related to punitive pay docking should be suspended with immediate effect until 16 January 2015.

HEC also agreed that should any subsequent action by UCU next year attract punitive pay docking then national strike action would follow.

The schedule Dispute meeting planned for today in the Joint Union office, is therefore, cancelled.

Mary J Ferrie

UCU Organising Officer

Aberystwyth University

Annwyl Aelod

Dim ond gair i’ch atgoffa fod y boicot marcio ac asesu USS yn parhau, ac, os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau am y peth, cysylltwch â mi neu
ucu-staff@aber.ac.uk, a cheisir arweiniad priodol, os bydd ei angen.

Gallwch gael hyd i atebion i rai cwestiynau yma: http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/assessment-boycott-faqs/.

Dear Member

Just a reminder to advise you that the USS Marking and Assessment boycott is ongoing, and, if you have any queries about it, please contact myself or

ucu-staff@aber.ac.uk and appropriate guidance will be sought, if necessary.

Answers to some questions can be found in FAQ http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/assessment-boycott-faqs/.

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

USS PENSION DISPUTE

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/comment/opinion/uuk-obstinacy-has-forced-ucu-marking-boycott/2016733.article

Apologies for the lack of translation, no translator was available.

UCU - ANTI-CASULISATION DAY – WEDNESDAY 5^TH NOVEMBER 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

Casualisation - short term contracts - low wages - these are major  issues that the UCU is campaigning on.
If you want to find out more , or if you want to discuss the issue - then please come along to out drop in desk at the main entrance of the Arts Centre.


 If you cannot make it, but want to be involved in the campaign, email: Mary Ferrie, mrf@aber.ac.uk.

Mary J Ferrie
UCU Organising Officer
Aberystwyth University

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