Author: Callum Salfield

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Introducing the 2024-25 LUCU Committee

Introducing the 2024-25 LUCU Committee

Starting on the 1st August a new LUCU committee has been elected. We offer our thanks and appreciation for the brilliant work of our outgoing committee members, Mary Brewer (Chair), Kerry Featherstone (Equality Officer) and Marc Gibson. We also offer a warm welcome to our new committee members: Scott Fernie, Angela Dy, Marco Pino, David Saal and Eleanor Roberts.

Marco Pino, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, LUCU Treasurer

“Hi everyone. I am Marco Pino, a senior lecturer in Communication and Social Interaction (School of Social Sciences and Humanities). I have been working at Loughborough University since 2015. I was involved with my School’s EDI committee for the last three years, and I was responsible for coordinating the submission of the latest School Athena Swan renewal application. I am also a voluntary member of the University Trans and Nonbinary Working group, and a member of the LGBT+ Network. I will serve as Treasurer for the LUCU committee, and I am excited to start contributing more actively to the life of the Union.”

Angela Dy, Loughborough London, LUCU Equality Officer

“I’m Dr Angela Martinez Dy, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Loughborough University London, where I have worked since the campus opened in 2015. I am very pleased to join the UCU Committee as Equality Officer. My academic specialism is in digital entrepreneurship and intersectionality, and I have been invited to use this expertise to collaboratively initiate and drive a range of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work at the University. Past roles have included network lead for the REACH (formerly BAME) Staff Network since 2019, Strategic Architect of the LU RACE Equity Strategy (2021-2022), and co-chair of the EDI Advisory Forum (2021-2023), which at its height included 118 members from across grades and job families.

In 2020, I proposed and instituted the EDI Committee and Advisory Forum as the University’s first dedicated EDI governance structures. I have also served as UCU rep for the London campus (2016-2020) and supported members individually as a caseworker. My (virtual) door is always open to members to discuss EDI issues and concerns. I will do my best to raise and shepherd these through the appropriate channels or create new ways forward if these do not yet exist.”

Eleanor Roberts, University Library, LUCU Committee Member

“Hi! I’m Eleanor Roberts. I’m an Academic Librarian and a committed trade unionist. In both roles I’m all about finding information and helping people. I just joined the university and am delighted by how welcoming everyone is, both in the union and the university more broadly. I’m looking forward to getting properly stuck in!”

Scott Fernie, School of Architecture Building & Civil Engineering, LUCU Committee Member

“I have been at Loughborough University (2nd tour!) since December 2011 and am the Director of Postgraduate Studies in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering. After a sustained period of time in my youth doing a variety of jobs (soldier, forklift driver, insurance salesman, waiting list manager in NHS, barman and office equipment engineer), I eventually studied at Abertay University and Dundee University before pursuing an academic career via spells at Heriot-Watt University, Reading University and Loughborough University. I have always been interested in, and a member of, unions coming from a very working-class background. I hope to initially concentrate on engaging with members and non-members alike to help grow the union.”

The LUCU committee is now made up of the following members.

  • Chair: David Wilson
  • Branch Secretary: Anthony Kevins
  • Treasurer: Marco Pino
  • Personal Casework Coordinator: Andrew Dix
  • Equality Officer: Angela Dy
  • Health, Safety & Environment Officer: Alec Edworthy
  • Ordinary Committee Members: Marie Hanlon, Denise Coles, Scott Fernie, David Saal & Eleanor Roberts.

We are always on the lookout to add to our team. If any of the following roles interest you, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, or one of our committee members for more information or a chat about what the role entails: Membership Secretary, Vice Chair, Anti-Casualisation Officer, Pensions Officer, Recruitment Officer, Green Rep & Union Learning Rep. We also have space for additional Ordinary Committee Members, which are great roles for anyone who wants to get more involved and/or build up some experience before potentially taking on a role with a portfolio.

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An Addition to our Reps Team

An Addition to our Reps Team

We are very pleased to announce that a new department rep has been added to the branch team. In the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Brian Jarvis has returned to his previous role of department rep for English. Many thanks go to Siân Adiseshiah for her work in the role over the last year. We know Brian will do a great job representing members in English.

Brian Jarvis, LUCU Rep for English, School of Social Sciences and Humanities.

“I started working in the English Department at Loughborough in 1991 and joined what was then the AUT. I’ve seen a lot of changes at Loughborough and throughout the UK university system over the past decades. All of the problematic developments have been actively resisted by the Union whilst Union pressure has contributed to most of the positive changes. I’ve been a Union representative in the past and am looking forward to taking up the role again.”

We will also soon be saying a fond farewell to our Rep in Wolfson, Tony Sutton, and wish to send our gratitude for his many years of supporting our members in the school. If any Wolfson members would be interested in taking on the Wolfson Rep position from 1st October, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

We also have vacancies for Reps in London, Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services & OnCampus. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

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LU General Assembly Report

LU General Assembly Report

At the request of Loughborough UCU, a General Assembly was held on the 6th of June, specifically to discuss the University’s plans for a partnership with Saudi Arabia.  This had been described as “an in-country teaching delivery offer” which raises major concerns about the rights and freedoms of staff and students who would be employed or studying there.  Of particular concern to the campus unions is the fact that unions do not exist in Saudi Arabia.  This has the potential for the project to fundamentally undermine the Partnership and Recognition Agreement, which defines our relationship with the University and in which “all parties recognise the value to good employee relations of staff being properly represented by one of the recognised unions”. Academic Freedom, and the lack thereof in Saudi Arabia, is also a crucial issue. 

In both cases creating a Loughborough entity with such radically different conditions and context threatens not only the safety and wellbeing of members of the University in Saudi Arabia, but also has the potential to set precedents for poorer conditions for our staff more generally.  Our concerns were articulated in a motion submitted to the General Assembly, which was overwhelmingly supported by the meeting, and subsequently communicated to University Council.  Support came from staff across the university and at all levels.

We are told that a final decision on whether to pursue this partnership, and in what form, will be taken by University Council in November.  LUCU will continue to push hard to ensure that our concerns are taken seriously, and that the University does not become complicit in sportswashing and human rights abuses.

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UCU Equality Groups Conference 2024

UCU Equality Groups Conference 2024

UCU’s annual equality conference is an opportunity to discuss and agree strategies to progress equality issues at work.

The conference will hold five separate half-day conferences for Black, disabled, LGBT+, migrant and women members, with a joint plenary session for all equality strands. To attend any of the five equality groups, delegates must self-identify as a member of that particular group.

This year’s joint plenary session will be focused on setting an agenda now that there is a Labour government, with particular focus on how to oppose the emboldened far right.

The 2024 conference will be held from Thursday 28th November to Saturday 30th November 2024. The conference will be held in a hybrid format using Zoom or in-person at Conference Aston: Conference Centre Hotel, Aston Street, Aston University Campus, Birmingham B4 7ET.

For more information, please consult the branch circular UCU2142 with various deadlines. 

To register, please use this link. Delegates must register before the deadline of 6pm on Monday 28th October.

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UCU Climate and Ecological Emergency National Meeting

UCU Climate and Ecological Emergency National Meeting

The UCU Annual Meeting for Climate and Ecological Emergency will be held on Thursday 14th November 2024 online via Zoom from 11:00am to 4:00pm. The annual meeting will advise and make recommendations to the climate and ecological emergency committee and the National Executive Committee on matters relating to the climate and ecological emergency and environmental sustainability. The meeting will hear reports on the work of UCU in relation to the climate and ecological emergency and discuss motions submitted by branches and local associations. There will also be plenty of opportunity to network with colleagues.  

All members with an interest in furthering the union’s work on the climate and ecological emergency may register to attend the meeting. Please ensure you register before the deadline of Thursday 7th November at 5pm by clicking here. There will be an e-mail confirmation automatically sent out after registration is complete.

For full details of the meeting, please consult this pdf.

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UCU Member Survey on AI

UCU Member Survey on AI

Members are encouraged to complete this survey. Your responses will help the UCU working group to understand from members’ perspective the uses, benefits and threats of AI-driven education technologies. We hope that the responses to this survey will help UCU to provide the appropriate support to members and branches, and to develop the appropriate policy for UCU on Artificial Intelligence.

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REF 2029 Main Panel Chair Recruitment – Now Open

REF 2029 Main Panel Chair Recruitment – Now Open

Some colleagues may be interested in applying to serve as REF 2029 Main Panel Chairs. The call for applications is as follows:

“Focusing on improving diversity in REF 2029 and encouraging people from underrepresented groups to apply. Evaluation from REF 2021 provides information on diversity in the exercise. Similarly, disciplinary specific inequalities might inform your approach. Please consider the full range of protected characteristics.

The Main Panel Chairs will hold overall responsibility for the REF 2029 main panels and play a key role in recruiting and developing the REF main panels and sub-panels. They will work and advise on the development and delivery of the exercise with the other main panel chairs, providing advice to the REF team and Steering Group. They will provide visible leadership for the REF panels and undertake an ambassadorial role for REF 2029 in the sector.”

You can find more information on the roles on the REF website. The application deadline is noon on Thursday 26 September 2024.

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LU “Planning for Retirement” Training

LU “Planning for Retirement” Training

Loughborough University Organisational Development have shared details of a new ‘Planning for Retirement’ Workshop session which will run on 19th December (9:30 – 12:30) via Microsoft Teams.

Workshop overview:

To encourage a positive and realistic approach to a financially secure retirement and help employees make informed choices about retirement. Employees, regardless of grade considering retirement or for those who have just started thinking about retirement plans.

During the course you’ll learn how to:

  • Help you plan for the lifestyle changes ahead
  • Maximise the benefits of your State and workplace pensions
  • Make the most of your tax-free cash
  • Understand the income options available from your pension
  • Achieve your retirement goals.

You can book onto this training via the My.HR website under the Learning Section. If you can’t attend this date but still would like to attend a session at some point, please select ‘Add to Waiting list’ on the bottom of that page and you should receive a notification if more sessions are added.

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Response from the LUCU Committee to recent racist violence

Response from the LUCU Committee to recent racist violence

LUCU stands in solidarity with Muslim, racially minoritized, immigrant and refugee colleagues and students against the racist, fascistic and Islamophobic violence by the far-right that has unfolded in the UK over the past week.  

We recognise this violence as a form of terrorism, enacted by individuals but encouraged over years by messaging from UK media, government policies, and influential individuals. It is also enabled by the actions and complicity of other institutions, including higher education and research bodies, through the reproduction of institutional white supremacy, alongside the suppression and demonization of anti-racist and decolonial thinking and practice. The result is a sustained anti-migrant and anti-Muslim sentiment that has become normalised in UK society. 

We also acknowledge the intersectional aspects of this issue that have led to visibly Muslim women being frequently targeted and extend particular solidarity and support to them. 

UCU National has released this statement condemning the violence as fascist, and importantly, returning our attention to the senseless killings of three girls in Southport, whose losses we mourn in solidarity with their families and community. We agree that their deaths, and the injuries of others attacked, have been exploited by the far-right to incite further Islamophobic, anti-Asian and anti-Black hatred, which is unacceptable at any time. Although the attacks were horrific, this is no justification for racism and further violence. 

We are especially grateful for all those staff and students who are working tirelessly to offer mechanisms for listening and support to the University’s affected communities. Please contact the committee at ucu@lboro.ac.uk if specific additional support is needed. 

We are also extremely grateful for, and proud of, all the people, of all ages and from all walks of life, who poured onto the streets on Wednesday in direct and peaceful challenge to the terror the far-right seeks to create. We hope to see this show of solidarity continue over the coming months, both in public and interpersonally, to change the culture that has grown and sheltered this racism, and drive home the belief of the vast majority in our communities: that white supremacy is not welcome in the UK. 

In solidarity

LUCU Committee

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A warm welcome to the branch committee for Denise Coles

A warm welcome to the branch committee for Denise Coles

We are very happy to announce a new committee member has joined our ranks. Welcome to Denise Coles who has been co-opted onto the committee as an “ordinary committee member” for the remainder of this term of office. Denise will bring a wealth of experience to the committee, particularly through her EDI experience, and we are very excited to have her onboard.

Denise Coles (LUCU Committee Member)

My Name is Denise Coles and I’m the university’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager.  I joined the university nearly two years ago.  My role sits within the newly established EDI Service.  A significant part of my job involves challenging oppressive system and offering support and advice on how to make policies, processes and practice more equitable for our University Community.   I was delighted to be asked to join the branch committee and offering EDI advice where I can.

We continue to work on increasing branch committee membership.  If you have an interest in getting involved in the work of the branch, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal chat.