The Union had a mandate for no compulsory redundancies, and has achieved that, which is why union members voted to accept the deal. I agree with you about the continuing anxiety suffered by those of us in scope. I don't think the University's hand has been strengthened. The University has been stung by the reaction to their ill-judged actions.
"A victory for common sense"? I'm quite staggered by that statement. All this does is
a) strengthen the University's hand at future negotiations by using this as precedent
b) delay the possibility of redundancies by a few months causing an even longer period of anxiety for those in scope
c) cause further chaos with the rest of the consultation plans, as the merging of schools will now presumably take place before any staffing decisions have been made.
I am in a state of dismay and shock at the vote by UCU members on this. This is not a positive, or a win, or common sense. This is a further weakening of the workers and a strengthening of University management.
To RM in the comments: If you’re a Cardiff UCU member I’d urge you to join in and contribute these perspectives in meetings.
If you’re not a member, then join so your voice can be heard.
If you’d been at the meeting which agreed to accept the deal, you’d have heard plenty of mistrust and anxiety remains, which is why the branch is re-balloting members for a renewed industrial action mandate so we can continue to pressure management going forward.
You’d have also heard that, given our current industrial action mandate concerns only the issue of redundancies in 2025 it would have essentially been illegal for us to continue to strike or do ASOS on any other issue.
This is because the branch began the process of balloting before Uni management’s announcements (in November). We didn’t know at the time what other issues we’d have to be fighting, so couldn’t anticipate them in advance.
If Cardiff UCU hadn’t had the foresight to do this, we’d not have been able to fight the cuts using industrial action at all.
As always, though, we are desperate for people to step up and join the core team of active members who give their time to campaigning for, negotiating on behalf of, and representing, members. So please do stick up your hand in that respect.
It can be very hard work, but also very rewarding. And all sorts of excellent training can be provided on the work of branch reps.
The Union had a mandate for no compulsory redundancies, and has achieved that, which is why union members voted to accept the deal. I agree with you about the continuing anxiety suffered by those of us in scope. I don't think the University's hand has been strengthened. The University has been stung by the reaction to their ill-judged actions.
"A victory for common sense"? I'm quite staggered by that statement. All this does is
a) strengthen the University's hand at future negotiations by using this as precedent
b) delay the possibility of redundancies by a few months causing an even longer period of anxiety for those in scope
c) cause further chaos with the rest of the consultation plans, as the merging of schools will now presumably take place before any staffing decisions have been made.
I am in a state of dismay and shock at the vote by UCU members on this. This is not a positive, or a win, or common sense. This is a further weakening of the workers and a strengthening of University management.
Thanks for a great piece, again, Prof Andrews.
To RM in the comments: If you’re a Cardiff UCU member I’d urge you to join in and contribute these perspectives in meetings.
If you’re not a member, then join so your voice can be heard.
If you’d been at the meeting which agreed to accept the deal, you’d have heard plenty of mistrust and anxiety remains, which is why the branch is re-balloting members for a renewed industrial action mandate so we can continue to pressure management going forward.
You’d have also heard that, given our current industrial action mandate concerns only the issue of redundancies in 2025 it would have essentially been illegal for us to continue to strike or do ASOS on any other issue.
This is because the branch began the process of balloting before Uni management’s announcements (in November). We didn’t know at the time what other issues we’d have to be fighting, so couldn’t anticipate them in advance.
If Cardiff UCU hadn’t had the foresight to do this, we’d not have been able to fight the cuts using industrial action at all.
As always, though, we are desperate for people to step up and join the core team of active members who give their time to campaigning for, negotiating on behalf of, and representing, members. So please do stick up your hand in that respect.
It can be very hard work, but also very rewarding. And all sorts of excellent training can be provided on the work of branch reps.