On Wednesday 6 March we will be holding our Annual General Meeting.

This is one of the most important dates in our branch calendar, where we elect branch officers, and can make decisions about how the branch operates for the coming year. You will also hear about next year’s pay campaign, and we hope to have a speaker from Unison Living, telling us about the benefits which come with membership.

There will be two sessions – you are welcome to attend either (or both!):

• 9:00 am in SK/037 (Skell building)
• 12:30 pm in DG/017 (De Grey lecture theatre)

Coming up before that, on Thursday 21 February, we will be holding a lunch for all members.

• 12:30-13:30 in CD/001

Note that the location has changed from the one we originally publicised. CD/001 is in the Cordukes building, where the Students’ Union used to be (see the Campus Map for directions)

This will be an opportunity to learn more about your union and ask any questions you may have, and perhaps to consider becoming more involved (should you feel able to do so).

Refreshments and a light lunch of Pizza and Potato Wedges will be provided. Please contact us in advance if you have any particular dietary requirements, so we can make sure we cater for you.

You will have seen, and hopefully voted in, the recent pay consultation. Well, the results are in: nationally, two thirds of those who voted in the consultation, voted to reject the employers’ final offer, which fell far short of the claim that Unison put in, and also of inflation (coming after many years of real-terms pay cuts). The results locally, at York St John, were largely in line with this, with 64% voting to reject.

The result is that the Higher Education Service Group will be organising a national ballot on industrial action, which is likely to take place in either late September or October.

It is vitally important that we get a good turnout for this. Recent changes to the law mean that however many vote to reject, we won’t be able to take action if we don’t get a high-enough turnout (this has already hit a PCS pay campaign, despite an 86% vote to reject).

• Official ballots have to be by post, to your home address, so please make sure that Unison has your correct details
  • You can check this by going to https://my.unison.org.uk (you may need to register), or contact us at unison@yorksj.ac.uk
• Please speak to your colleagues, and encourage them to vote.
• Encourage them to join Unison if they’re not already members – they can do this at https://join.unison.org.uk/

We are expecting to hear soon that universities will start paying out on their offer, following advice from UCEA, the employers’ association. They are trying to buy us off, but let’s see this as just the first instalment. We deserve so much more.

7.5% or £1,500 – because we’re worth it.

Representatives of the Branch and also Yorkshire Regional Office will be in Holgate Reception.

On
Monday 15th May
between
11:00 am and 2:00 pm

Please pop by the stall and chat to us about UNISON and the benefits, joining the YSJ Branch and protection in the workplace.

York St John University UNISON Branch has arranged advice surgeries over the coming months:

• Thursday 11th May – CD/002 11:30am -13:30pm
• Thursday 15th June – CD/002 11:30am -13:30pm
• Thursday 13th July – CD/002 11:30am -13:30pm

Surgeries provide opportunities for members to seek confidential advice from Branch reps and also UNISON regional staff. Non-members are welcome to drop into surgeries to find out more about UNISON.

For more information please contact YSJ UNISON branch at unison@yorksj.ac.uk