Author Archives: york

Government HE Green Paper regarding TEF – UCU Response

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The Government plan to:

“introduce a Teaching Excellence Framework that will deliver better value for money for students, employers and taxpayers

  • increase access and success in higher education participation for those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups
  • create a new single gateway for entry and create a create common system for all providers
  • establish a new Office for Students to promote the student interest and ensure value for money, and to reduce the regulatory burden on the sector”

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UCU’s response can be found here, including UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt’s response.

 

AGM

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We have just given formal notice to members today of the University of York branch’s Annual General Meeting, to be held on 5th November 2015 at 1 pm, in the lecture theatre in the Biology Department (B/B/009) over on Heslington West.

We’d love to see as many members there as possible, and there will also be an exciting chance to hear a key UCU member of staff speak just prior to the AGM – details for this are still being finalised but we can guarantee that it will be a person of some importance within the union – and you are going to want to hear what they have to say!  Watch this space.

NO TO AUSTERITY, YES TO WORKERS’ RIGHTS – 4TH OCTOBER RALLY AND MARCH

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The TUC have once again organised their annual rally, with the theme of Anti-Austerity, aimed to coincide with the Tory Party Conference in Manchester.

tuc rally and march

link to tuc march

We strongly encourage you to attend the TUC rally and for further information go to  https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-tuc/whats-happening-day to read some of the reasons for attending.

The march will be assembling on Oxford Road from All Saints Park southwards from 12 noon. UCU members will be marching alongside our sister unions in the education block – marked point ‘G’ on the TUC’s march map here. However please look out for the UCU national banner also as we anticipate it will be very busy.

The rally commences with music from 12.30pm. Speakers will begin at 1pm. The first part of the rally will take place while the march is static and at 1.30pm the march will move off. Speeches and music will continue as the march progresses down Oxford Road and passes the stage, meaning that participants towards the back of the march also get a chance to hear contributions as they are moving off.

Disabled toilets are available in Albert Square, as are accessible refreshment venues.

March Route

March down Oxford Road to Portland Street

Turn right into Portland Street to the junction with Princess Street

Turn left into Princess Street and follow until Albert Square

Follow left around Albert Square to Southmill Street

Bear right into Southmill Street to Junction with Peter Street.

Turn right into Peter Street to junction with Deansgate

Turn left into Deansgate to finish at junction with Liverpool Road

The police have indicated that whilst they anticipate the march will be peaceful, there will be officers present on the route. They will be signposting any one wishing to join the march to join the rear of the march, entering Oxford Road via Brunswick Street and Dover Street.

The good news is that York Trades Council has organised coach transport to this rally. You can buy your ticket online via the following link:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2162786

Tickets cost £13 return and are available to everyone, not just Trade Union members. (The “unwaged” price is £7.) Coaches leave Memorial Gardens, York at 9.45am and will depart from Manchester at around 5.30pm.

We will have the University of York UCU banner at the rally. Come and march with us!