https://www.facebook.com/rob.crowther.79/videos/1407879342604812/

Here is a leaflet and a longer briefing from our fellow trades-unionists in the RMT explaining why passenger safety concerns are key to the strike action they are taking against Merseyrail today.

MerseyrailStrikePublicleafletApril17 MerseyrailGuardsBriefingMar178PDRAFTv3

UCU calls on the Vice Chancellor and the Governors to avoid any and all compulsory redundancies as a result of the withdrawal over the next two years from MMU Cheshire.

In a consultative e-ballot of branch members, close on ninety per cent of those who voted agreed to call for industrial action should any UCU member be threatened with compulsory redundancy. Over half of all branch members used their votes in a decisive show of support for colleagues threatened with losing their jobs this summer at Crewe.

The branch is committed to continue talks to try persuade the University to invest in the staff for the sake of our students, and the future of MMU. We are asking for clear and decisive action from management to avoid compulsory redundancies. Our campaign continues.

Check out our ‘Crewe Voices’ series posted here and on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/MMUUCU/

370 jobs are at risk at Manchester Metropolitan University. MMU UCU spoke to academics and support staff. Names are invented; their words are true.
Dr Couzens Senior Lecturer MMU:
“When you start a job in a university you don’t think you might need to worry about redundancy. Jobs in higher education are usually fairly steady. I didn’t think I would be out of the job but higher education has changed… Higher education isn’t the best paid sector to be in if you’re highly qualified but the pension, job security and working conditions made up for that fact. I’m not sure I would have pursued a career in higher education if I knew what the future held. It feels like the best and the brightest are being chucked on the scrapheap… What is frustrating is that this isn’t a university that is struggling financially. MMU is in a very healthy financial state and has huge cash reserves…”

UCU MMU Members are now voting in a CONSULTATIVE BALLOT to stand up for any colleague threatened with compulsory redundancy in the event of the University withdrawing from its Crewe campus. Over 370 jobs are at risk.

The branch urges all our colleagues to join their respective unions. And to UCU members we say – please vote – and encourage your colleagues to vote.

LOBBY – FRIDAY 10th FEBRUARY 08.45

This Friday 10th February the Vice Chancellor and the Board of the University will meet behind closed doors to make their final decision about the future of MMU Cheshire. UCU will be lobbying that meeting

UCU’s General Secretary Sally Hunt will be speaking at our lobby, along with members of the branch negotiating team from Crewe and Manchester

We will be gathering at 8.45am on the corner of All Saints Park, at the junction of Lower Ormond and Cavendish Streets.

This is a call to rally before work to protest at the proposed ending of more than a hundred years of higher education provision in Crewe and East Cheshire and the threat to hundreds of academic and support jobs.

Students, other trades unionists – anyone who wants to speak up for the future of our public Universities – please support us!
For further information or to send messages of support contact UCU branch Secretary Julie Wilkinson on ucummuwilko@gmail.com

the-case-for-mmu-chesire-final

What is the future for MMU Cheshire?

 The Vice Chancellor and the Board of Manchester Metropolitan University are currently considering proposals to cut back or close our Crewe campus.

Plans set out by consultants Deloitte could result in:

• potential redundancies: up to141 academic jobs plus technical and support staff
• fewer courses and a narrower range of learning experiences for future students
• shrinking of the public Higher Education sector in the region
• the permanent loss to the community of Crewe and East Cheshire of the cultural and economic benefits of a local public University.

UCU opposes compulsory redundancies

We call on all staff and students to support your MMU colleagues.

 UCU believes that increased investment in the Crewe campus can build on MMU’s achievements and ensure a sustainable academic and financial future.

To read MMU UCU’s The Case for MMU Cheshire click on the link above.

To join UCU go to www.ucu.org.uk/join or contact Membership Secretary h.r.jones@mmu.ac.uk

To sign UCU’s petition go to: http://speakout.web.ucu.org.uk/save-manchester-metropolitan-university-cheshire-campus/

 To defend the public University sector and all our jobs – join UCU and have your say!    

Manchester Metropolitan University Branch:  meetings and deadlines list 2016-7 (subject to change)

http://speakout.web.ucu.org.uk/save-manchester-metropolitan-university-cheshire-campus/

Manchester Metropolitan University has informed all staff at MMU Cheshire of proposals for changes including the possibility of the permanent closure of the campus – see our earlier post with details.

At a meeting in June this year, the University’s Board of Governors and the Vice Chancellor ruled out the option of ‘business as usual’.  Managers have stressed their commitment to existing students enrolled on courses at Crewe, including to the quality of their experience of studying at MMU.

There are just three options now under consideration: a reduced ‘focused’ presence on the existing site; a move to a Crewe town centre site, possibly with new educational partners; and closure.  All options have extremely serious implications not only for the future of the Higher Education offer in the area, but for current academic and support staff jobs.

The UCU branch has been working closely with Unison and the GMB to oppose compulsory redundancy; regional and branch officers have made this policy clear in every meeting with managers.  So far no member of staff at Crewe has been informed that they may be made redundant.  But the University has also refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Please sign the UCU petition in support of ‘The Case for Crewe’ which we intend to present to MMU’s Vice Chancellor and Governors in mid-November.

If you have a direct connection with MMU Cheshire don’t forget to add this to your signature along with your reasons for signing.

Thank you for your support.

Julie Wilkinson
MMU UCU Branch Secretary
j.wilkinson@mmu.ac.uk