ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE UNION
Minutes: Committee Meeting
Date: Wednesday 26 July 2017
Time: 1pm – 2pm
Venue: Taylor A36
In Attendance: Derek Dawson (Chair), Ernesto Compatangelo, Gordon Fernie (by Skype), Helen Martin, Masaru Nakamoto, Ruth Payne, Frederik Pedersen, Syrithe Pugh, Mary Senior (UCUS, by Skype to 1340), Michael Wolfindale
Apologies: David Anderson, Juergen Bracht, Sola Kasim, Andrew Macgregor, Andrew Mackillop, Dannette Marie, Mike McConnell, Ewan McHenry, Mandy Murray, Adam Price, Rachel Shanks, David Watts
Minutes: Susan Melvin
1. Mary Senior’s update: Mary reported that she had met with Caroline Inglis (University Secretary) to discuss ways of improving industrial relations. They agreed that holding a joint development day might be a suitable way forward. This would be facilitated by an external mediator. Committee felt that this would be a positive step and expressed the hope that this could be arranged promptly so that meaningful negotiations could resume as soon as possible. Mary will liaise with key committee officers over potential dates and committee reps for the event, and will then contact the Director of HR to finalise arrangements.
Mary also reported on the newly announced landmark Supreme Court judgement making industrial tribunal fees illegal.
2. Minutes of meetings on 28 June and matters arising:
Minutes were approved as accurate. All matters arising will be dealt with under the agenda.
3. Look back / look forward:
a) Helen will attend the Teaching & Research Promotion Working Group meeting on Thursday 27 July.
b) Frederik and Derek will attend the JCCRA meeting on 9 August.
c) Today’s BEM group meeting was postponed as a number of people are on leave.
d) Committee noted all other future meetings/events.
4. Items for discussion:
a) Disinvestment v2: It was agreed that the primary “test cases” would be critical in determining how future cases would be handled. In spite of previous assurances that the Framework of Academic Expectation would not be used as a criterion for redundancy, it is being used to identify staff who are “underperforming”.
b) Professional Services Review: A report has been circulated to committee. Any comments can be sent to Susan for collation.
c) College Review: The college structure is being reviewed and the colleges will no longer exist as of 1 August. All policies have been reworded to remove references to colleges and these policy amendments were approved by email discussion, and SMT notified of our agreement.
d) Opening of a pub in the High Street: The local conservation group approached Alan Fenwick to ask if the branch would support objections to a planning application for a pub at 15 High Street. After discussion, it was agreed that this is not something that we would actively get involved with. We agreed to step in on the Starbucks issue previously as they are known for their poor employment record (it wasn’t the historical preservation aspect) and accommodation hasn’t been an issue that members have ever raised with us. The planning details have been circulated to committee so if anyone wants to lodge a personal objection, they have the necessary information.
e) The Branch Development & Planning meeting will take place on 23 August. Development of a communications strategy will be one of the top priorities, as is improving engagement with members and potential members at Foresterhill. It is hoped that we can access support from the UCUS Branch Development Officer for local campaigning in this area.
f) The deadline for Court nominations is on Friday and committee members were encouraged to consider putting themselves forward.
g) A few union members in the School of Education have approached us recently, expressing concerns about issues related to the management of the School. They report increased worries about job insecurity, quality and quantity of course provision for students, and workload management. These concerns have already been reported to the University SMT (Senior Management Team) and some initial efforts have been made to address the underlying issues. However, to date significant points of concern remain unresolved. It was agreed that we would contact members in the School to ask them to:
• report any concerns/issues to us in confidence (and for any suggestions for positive ways to improve the situation)
• consider whether they would be willing to be part of a collective grievance
• speak to colleagues in the School to encourage them to join UCU
Similar concerns have been raised in relation to the Business School, with a member asking if we could request an independent inquiry into bullying and intimidation in the School.
5. Standing Items:
a) Update from Policy Review Group: No report
b) Update from PNCC: No report
c) Update from JCCRA: No report
d) Update on Court Briefings/Court: See 4f
e) General Meetings: No report
f) Recruitment: No report
g) Casework: No report
h) Equalities: No report
i) Anti-casualisation: No report.
j) Foresterhill membership engagement: No report
k) Employee Engagement: No report
l) Health, Safety & Well-being: No report
m) Environment & Sustainability: No report
n) Workload: No report
o) USS: No report
p) ATUC: No report
q) Facilities Time: No report.
r) Congress/Exec: No report
s) Committee Vacancies & Diversity: No report
6. Position Statements: A confidential strategic position statement was discussed by the committee.
7. AOB:
a) Meeting closed at 14:15. The next meeting will take place on 09 August 2017, 1pm (venue tbc).
ACTIONS:
Mary
· Make arrangements for joint development day (Item 1)
Susan
· Send email to School of Education members (Item 4g)
· Send statement to Prof Margaret Ross, VP for People Strategy, Prof John Paterson, VP for Internationalisation and Ms Debbie Dyker, Director of HR (Item 6)
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