Kent University Executive Group (EG) have increased central contribution costs from Divisions and are threatening jobs in Arts and Humanities to pay off outstanding building debts and to fund £60 million of building projects in the next 5 years. From the University Financial Statements it is clear that EG’s priority is buildings, not staff. …
Category: Branch Anouncment
Mar 31
USS: 0% contribution increases needed to service deficit!
I have just sent the following letter to Martin Atkinson and Jane Higham in the hope that we can push back against the continuing farce that is the #USSmess. Chris
Mar 21
USS + Legal Challenge Update
Dear colleagues, I am writing with an update on the USS pension situation. This will be fairly long so, if you don’t want to read it now, please bear in mind that we periodically update the branch blog with these updates, as well as various bits of news that do not go out through UCU-announce. …
Mar 04
USS Pension Update
Local Context Whilst we were on strike this month, the University of Kent rejected UCU’s proposal to stave off cuts to our pension pay-outs. This is the text of their rejection: Proposed Consultation Response – UCU proposal feb22.pdf Management’s response is clear: their financial mismanagement has led to the position whereby we must take a …
Mar 04
Kent Finances Counter-Narrative: Brains not Buildings
Current Financial Context The University’s financial performance in 2020-21 was ‘ahead of expectations’ with an overall surplus of over £4 million. The University is ahead of its ‘cost-savings’ targets, and the total staff cost savings required by the banks have now been found. Staff cost savings were delivered one year ahead of schedule. The University …
Mar 03
Marking and Assessment Boycott FAQs
The branch committee have prepared an FAQ as a guide to the marking and assessment boycott we are currently operating. The FAQ can be found here. The marking and assessment boycott for our local dispute over threats to jobs and excessive workloads begins today, on 3rd March 2022, immediately following the national strikes. It will …
Mar 02
Claiming from the strike fund
Dear University of Kent UCU members, Our branch strike fund has received 34 applications so far. If you need to claim, please do so ASAP, as the sooner you claim, the sooner we can pay out (and all claims must be received within 3 months of the loss of income). We have now paid 33 …
Feb 08
Save Jobs at Kent: Launch Marking & Assessment Boycott
UCU meeting votes to begin sustained local marking & assessment boycott on 3rd March to defend jobs & workloads at Kent Your Kent UCU negotiators will be redoubling their efforts to prevent compulsory redundancy processes this calendar year, armed with this new leverage you voted for today. Members will be kept up to date every …
Jan 12
January 2022 ASOS Changes
New ASOS terms were received yesterday from HQ. They are as follows: working to contract not covering for absent colleagues removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action not rescheduling classes and lectures cancelled due to …
Nov 19
USS Complaint Response and Legal Action
The USS has responded to our second stage USS complaint which we submitted on behalf of 3,383 colleagues from across the UK on 18th August 2021, which followed our first stage complaint submitted on 22nd January 2021. In their response, and rather than answering any of the questions, they closed our complaint because we have …