Category: Uncategorized

EG shreds ‘No CRs’ Guarantee

The Kent Executive Group (EG) have ripped up their guarantee of ‘No compulsory redundancies as a result of the A&H review’. This was their guarantee: “Karen and the Executive Group wish to provide a further specific commitment to all Arts and Humanities staff that there will be no  compulsory redundancies as a result of the …

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Kent UCU win

“Student Cap” Policy changed by National UCU, thanks to Kent-CCCU Motion At the UCU Congress in Glasgow last week, the motion on reintroducing student distribution in HE was passed, and it has now become National UCU policy. The motion was proposed by Dave Hitchcock (CCCU) and seconded by Balihar Sanghera (Kent). UCU will commission research …

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Marking and Assessment Boycott – no deductions in May

It was confirmed today that there will be no deductions of pay for participation in the national UCU marking & assessment boycott (MAB) this month (May). HR have stated that deductions will be made at least one month “in arrears”. However, negotiators continue to press for no deductions at all and this is a perfectly …

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Arts and Humanities update

Kent UCU negotiators have continued to engage with senior management about the possibility of a “mass selection process for redeployment” in Arts & Humanities (A&H).  Negotiators have made it clear to senior management that the mass selection process would be unfair, unworkable and needlessly escalatory. Such a process would not yield the “cost savings” senior …

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Mass Selection for Redeployment in Arts and Humanities

We have an important update and some advice for Arts & Humanities members about a communication you will shortly be receiving. Some of you will receive an email from HR informing you that you are being ‘pooled’ for reselection as a member of staff in A&H and inviting you to fill out a form: in …

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Local UCU ballot now open

You will shortly be receiving a postal ballot to vote for action to protect the jobs of our PS colleagues, who are under threat across the University. This is an essential local action to defend jobs. Please now Post your ballot as soon as possible, and let us know when you have done so (check …

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Marking and Assessment Boycott – hardship fund

On 4 May, the local branch approved a hardship fund to support colleagues who incur a salary deduction for participating in the MAB. This is 50% of the usual strike day fund, i.e. £25 per day for staff on over £30k and £37.50 per day for those earning below £30k. Check emails for details of …

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Marking and Assessment Boycott – declaring participation

How to Declare Participation in the Marking and Assessment Boycott You are not obliged to inform your employer in advanceof your intention to participate in the boycott.  Do not use the form provided by HR To communicate with HR about your participation in the MAB please do so only in writing to hrindustrialaction@kent.ac.uk. Make sure …

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Marking and Assessment Boycott

Key National Updates University of Kent management claim they will withhold ‘50%’ of pay from staff who take part in the NATIONAL marking and assessment boycott over pay, workload & inequalities, beginning 20th April 2023. Do not let this be a barrier to your participation in the boycott. It is not clear how severe these …

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Arts and Humanities voluntary severance scheme

At 3pm on 5 April 2023, members in the Arts & Humanities received a communication from HR, addressed to them personally, inviting them to consider applying for the now-reopened Voluntary Severance scheme. We have understandably received a number of anxious members from colleagues that they feel individually targeted or pressured to apply for Voluntary Severance. …

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