Derek Baldwin

Derek works in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Kent. Among his key responsibilities is managing the School's web resources, managing the School's hardware inventory, and being the first-responder when any hardware/software issues occur.

Author's posts

Branch website has now replaced this blog

This blog has been dormant for a while to allow us to work on the new branch website, which will be taking its place. I’m pleased to say that the site is now live at www.kent.ac.uk/unison  

HE pay offer accepted

By a margin of 8 to 1 Higher Education members who participated in the recent ballot voted in favour of accepting the pay offer for 2014/15. Full details via the UNISON website at: http://www.unison.org.uk/content/ConNewsArticle/5071

Help with back to school costs

Coping with the rising cost of living, and finding that you’re having to economise in every area of expenditure, can feel especially difficult as the summer progresses and the realisation hits that items of school uniform need updating or replacing. UNISON has set up a limited fund to help members on low incomes with school uniform costs. A one-off payment …

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Speaking up for disabled members

Do you think that society creates barriers to inclusion, preventing disabled people from taking an equal part in life? Under the Equality Act the definition of “disabled” is drawn fairly widely, and includes, for example, people with mental health issues that affect their life but which aren’t necessarily visible to other people. Those of us …

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Drop-in sessions in June

A number of consultations are going on around the University and the local branch of UNISON is holding  open door sessions for members. Please drop in if you’d like to talk about these or if there are any other issues you wish to raise. Members are very welcome to come along individually or as a group. Non-members …

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Pensions advice surgery

A pensions advice surgery is available free of charge to UNISON members on 4th June at our regional office in Strood. Here are more details and if you wish to book a place please contact Tanya Jeffery. Wednesday 4 June from 10:00 – 16:30 at UNISON, Suite 14/15 Christchurch House, Beaufort Court, Sir Thomas Longley …

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HE employers offer 2% uplift for 2014-15

Interesting news regarding the HE employers side pay offer for 2014-15 which is at least more generous than last year’s, twice as generous in fact (but it’s a word I use in the very loosest sense). A summary of the state of play is on UNISON’s website: http://www.unison.org.uk/news/he-employers-offer-2pc-and-living-wage Fuller details can be viewed at: http://ucea.ac.uk/en/empres/paynegs/current/index.cfm  

Speaking up on Health and Safety

An important role of UNISON at the University is safeguarding the health and safety of our members. Our Health and Safety Officer Chris Thornton recently became aware of some concerns among cleaners who were suffering injuries to the arms due to a type of scourer they were being asked to use. On closer investigation it …

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2014-15 pay claim submitted

In conjunction with other HE trades unions UNISON has submitted a pay claim on behalf of members for 2014-15 (despite no resolution, at the time of writing, to last year’s claim). There are more details, and a link to the full text of the claim, at this web address: http://www.unison.org.uk/news/unions-submit-2014-15-he-pay-claim

Pay dispute – consultation of members announced

UNISON’s higher education conference has decided to fully consult members via their branches before calling any further strike days in the ongoing pay dispute. UNISON’s higher education service group executive will discuss future strategy when it meets on 20 March and will look at the implications of the motion and what process(es) to use for …

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