Dear University of Kent UCU members,

This is the latest news that the branch has about the USS action:

http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/2015/branches-prepare-for-action-to-restart/

It is a very short article, so I quote it in full here:

“Branches prepare for action to restart

8 January 2015

UCU branches have been asked to prepare members to recommence the assessment boycott on Friday 16 January, to be confirmed after a specially arranged Higher Education Committee (HEC) has met on 14 January.

UCU has also served a fresh notice on the employers that continuous action short of a strike in the form of an assessment and marking boycott will restart; this comes after the suspension of action to allow negotiations following an HEC meeting on 19 November 2014.

The special HEC called for 14 January will allow negotiators to provide an update on progress. A report of this meeting will be communicated to branches as soon as possible.

In the meantime branches have been advised to prepare for the action and reconvene industrial action committees.”

Therefore we expect to have further news in the next few days, but we anticipate the assessment boycott will restart THIS Friday.

We will hold a branch meeting next week, Thurs 22nd January (week 13), at 1pm in the Peter Brown room, The Missing Link, Darwin College.

http://www.kent.ac.uk/timetabling/rooms/room.html?room=D.PeterBro

Please attend if at all possible.

We will primarily discuss the latest news on the USS dispute, but if members would like to add other items to the agenda, please contact me as soon as possible.

Best wishes,

Owen Lyne

Branch secretary

University of Kent UCU