Unite at the University of Sheffield
Your union fights for your rights and protection at work
As a recognised trades union, Unite at Sheffield negotiates with the University and Student's Union on important matters related to all aspects of your employment.As a member of Britain’s largest trades union you have access to the skills and expertise to help and protect you, whichever area of the University or Students' Union you work in.
Email us: uniteunion@sheffield.ac.uk
REMINDER - if you have any issues from changes at work or any issues caused by a restructure, please get in contact with out reps who will be happy to help you.
The Campus Trade Unions are holding a joint meeting for ALL staff on Thursday 14 November, at 12:30-13:30. The meeting will be hybrid, with the opportunity to join via Google Meet or in-person in Hicks LT02: Please sign up here . Please come if you can.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Mark Green who was elected as a workplace rep at the last branch meeting!
Branch Meeting This Week
Our branch meeting is this week (a little earlier than normal due an all staff/trade union meeting next week).
Statement of Support and Solidarity with Veolia Staff
The University of Sheffield Unite branch makes this statement in support of Unite staff at Veolia Sheffield currently engaged in a battle to be recognised by their workplace. We stand in solidarity with all those who are members of Unite, wish to join Unite, wish to join any union and those that Veolia’s reluctance to come to terms effects.
Workers have a right to be represented and have their decision about who does this representation recognised by their employers. Management's refusal to engage with staff is destroying employee/employer relations, grinding negotiations to a halt and union busting by another name their chosen representatives. Veolia should immediately begin talks with staff and find a proactively solution to this probably - i.e. recognising Unite in their workplace.
The University of Sheffield Unite branch makes a gift of £200 towards Unite members at Veolia to assist in furthering their struggle.
Stay strong.
Congratulation to our New Reps!
Following out AGM on 19th June we are pleased to announce the election of out new reps!
Response to the university announcement that they will be pursuing the Schools Restructure.
We are disappointed that the University Council have come to the decision to pursue this and have not heeded the unions’ requests to significantly slow down the pace of this change, for greater reflection and to solicit feedback from staff.
We have concerns about the level of disruption that this plan will entail for staff and its long term impact on the conditions of working at the university. It is based on what we consider to be flimsy reasoning, with limited evidence presented as to why the university thinks this change will result in achieving the schools merger’s stated goals.
While the merger of some departments may make sense, that case is far from clear in others, and the time scale is deeply concerning for all, even in the departments where this change may be welcomed.
This was clearly evidenced in the joint union survey, instigated by UCU, where almost a thousand people shared their views, the vast majority expressing reservations.
We, along with our sibling unions, will continue to challenge the university on its decisions and plans that may be harmful to staff, to hold the university to account and provide a watchful eye to ensure the university is following the standards set by the negotiated policies and procedures.
If you are affected by the schools merger, please get in contact with us to share your thoughts and any concerns. We can support you going through this change and help to push back against the university’s sweeping decisions. Our door is always open.
In solidarity.
Government Consultation - Minimum Service Levels in Educaiton
The government is conducting a consultation about minimum service levels in education. Basically, it would mean that schools may be able to force staff to work during a strike, fundamentally undercutting unions' abilities to bargain for better terms and conditions and is an extremely worrying development. It is focused around primary schools, high schools and college, but it has implications for universities too. Importantly, the consultations are considering not only if teaching staff can be made to come in, but also support staff. The consultation is open until 30th January. Please consider filling it in and telling the government if you think this a good idea or not.
Branch Meetings - 2024 Academic Year
Wed 14th Feb - 1pm - 2pm
Thur 21st March - 1pm - 2pm
Wed 17th April - 1pm - 2pm
Thur 16th May - 1pm - 2pm
Wed 19th June - 1pm - 2pm
Wed 17th July - 1pm - 2pm
Wed 21st Aug - 1pm - 2pm
Thur 19th Sept - 1pm - 2pm
Open Letter to UEB about New School Structure
Restructure Survey Results Released
Proposal for Restructure of the Univeristy
There is also a joint union survey to capture staff's feelings about these proposal. Please fill it in and encourage other staff members too - you do not need to be in the union to fill it in.
https://forms.gle/
Consultation Happening at University
New Officers Following AGM
Thank you to everyone who came to the AGM yesterday. Congratulations to all our officers, if they are new or returning ones!
Chair - Martin Bentley
Secretary - Claire Healey
Lifelong learning - Taiba Yasseen
Equalities - Anne Hayes
If anyone has any follow up questions , comments or feedback on anything we touched on at the meeting, please drop us a line.
AGM UPDATE
Our AGM will be taking place on 28th June, 1pm, Arts Tower - Lecture Theare 3. Hope to see you there.
AGM COMING UP - UPDATE
AGM COMING UP
Our annual general meeting is coming up and we would love to see you there. It is on at:
Wednesday 24th May
13:00 - 14:00
Arts Tower LT3
We will also be making it a hybrid meeting with details to follow.
Please make it if you can - it is the meeting where we elect our reps and discuss the matters important to you going forward in the next year. The union is made up of its members and serves the needs of its members - without your voice the union doesn't exist!
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TIME TO VOTE !
The ballot to elect the Executive Council 2023-2026 will take place in April.
Where a ballot is required, ballot papers will be sent to eligible members w/c 27th March arriving with members from Thursday 30th March. They must be returned to the Independent Scrutineer by Noon Tuesday 25th April 2023.
A list of the eligible candidates in each of the Executive Council’s constituencies is now available in the Useful Documents section of this website. There is a contest requiring a ballot in all 10 regions, in 12 of the 19 industrial sectors and in 5 of the 6 national constituencies.
Candidate Webpages
https://secure.cesvotes.com/V3-2-0/uniteexec23/en/home?bbp=36052&x=-1
VOTE IN YOUR UNION BALLOT!!
The union ballot over play is coming up! Please see the floowing message from out Branch Secretary and Branch Chair
Good morning,
UPDATE - Movement on Grade Boundaries
You will be aware that the University and its campus unions have reached the end of our talks considering amendments to the grade boundaries of the University of Sheffield Grading Scheme. These negotiations began due to Unite’s successful 2021 campaign, which won a commitment to pay all staff at the University an hourly rate of at least £10 per hour.
Please see the proposal below:
Ground Boundary Proposal
We recommend that you accept this proposal through this link as it represents the best that could have been achieved through negotiation alone. We are content that we have achieved:
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A proposal that signals an end to the university falling below the poverty pay threshold, by giving a living wage foundation guarantee.
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Changes to the grading structure to enable this.
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Shift premia improvements.
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A commitment to further review the grade boundaries in 2024.
This proposal will impact over 5000 staff, including most if not all of the members of staff in our negotiating sphere. We are pleased at the outcome for our members.
Please note that whilst the university has chosen - in the attached proposal - to include the UCEA cost of living increase, this is a separate issue over which the unions nationally are still in dispute. We do not agree that forcing the increase through without agreement is right, and see it as an attempt to appease colleagues who share our opinion that the national pay offer is not good enough. We will continue to push for an increase through the national JNCHES negotiating process that more accurately reflects the cost-of-living challenges that we all face and will communicate further on this in due time.
March in Leeds for NHS!
There is still time to fill in the Unite Pay Survery! The survey is open to everyone, not just union members, so if you have any colleagues you think might be interested, please point them our way.
The Unite Pay Survey is LIVE!!!
Pay Poster
Have you say and let your voice be heard!!
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Union Meeting - 27th May 2022
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We Demand Better
National Pay Negotiations Final Offer
https://images.unitetheunion.org/hawkfile/10715/original/UCEA%20final%20offer%20letter%20-%209%20May%202022.pdf
Pay Comparison with York
Along with other Unions, Unite will be going into talks with the uni over placement on the nation pay spine (this is separate to the national pay negotiations). If you want to get angry have a look at the comparison with York’s grade boundaries.
Pay Comparison - Sheffield & York
Branch elections
Unite at Sheffield Univeristy and Union have held our elections. Thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations to all our reps. For the full list, look below!
Come Chat to YOUR Union Reps!
Branch reps will be coming on-site on central campus. Come and talk to them about what is going well, what is not going so well, what changes you would like to see at work. They will be at:
No need to book, just show up.
Non-members welcome. Tell your friends and colleague
Help Grow the Union - Together we are Stronger You
These are unprecedented times. We’re all concerned about keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe, and for many of us it’s also a time of worry and uncertainty about our incomes and job security.
Our trade unions help us to stand together when times are tough – protecting our lives and our livelihoods.
There’s never been a more important time to join a union. Ask a friend to join today! Introduce a new member to Unite and get a shopping card worth up to £25
Info Here
https://unitetheunion.org/why-join/member-offers-and-benefits/member-get-member/