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:
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
The UNISON Christmas party will take place on Thursday, 22 December 2016 in the Students’ Union (bar, ground floor). Teh bar will be open at 12:30 with food available from 14:00.
As usual, there will be a raffle and Col’s xmas quiz.
We hope to see you there.
Happy Christmas
Posted in General News | Leave a reply
UNISON is balloting members in higher education in August /September, urging them to vote ‘Yes’ for strike action for better pay. The decision of the higher education service group executive was taken following a consultation with branches. The employers have so far refused to increase their 1.1% offer for the majority of staff that also does not deliver the Living Wage for the lowest paid.
The average pay rise for Vice Chancellors in 2014/15 was a whopping 6.1% rising to an average of £274,405! UNISON has called the offer ‘deeply hypocritical’ – as staff are offered a miserly 1.1% to cover their rising household bills – while at the same Vice
Chancellors have called for a 2.8% increase in tuition fees in England to cover University ‘costs’.
Despite low inflation, essential costs such as Council Tax, water bills, public transport and car parking have all gone up this year.
UNISON believes that an increase is affordable – money is available for a higher pay increase this year universities holding cash surpluses of nearly £21billion! And the need for our members is urgent.
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales reported a total surplus of £60m, while the English funding body (HEFCE) reported in March 2016 a surplus of nearly £1.8bn! Scotland Universities posted a surplus of £166m and Northern Ireland had a surplus of £27m.
UNISON believes that universities can afford to improve on their miserly offer.
Donna Rowe-Merriman, UNISON’s head of higher education said: “Pay offers below the cost of living since 2009 mean that our members have lost the equivalent of between £1585 – £8428 a year.
The final proposals for the re-organisation and Voluntary Severance decision are due to be announced next week. Because the chair Dave Thompson and deputy chair Hazel Eldred will be on holiday next week you can contact Sultan at regional HQ who can pick up any issues for members and set up meetings if necessary. His email is
s.mahmood@unison.co.uk
The York St John University Newsletter for April 2016 is attached
The UNISON AGM which will be held on Wednesday 24 February 2016 (tomorrow) at 10:30 in DG017. Leonie from the Regional Office will attend to talk to us about our pensions and the changes taking effect from April 2016.
All members are welcome to attend the branch’s annual general meeting. We hope to see you there. Refreshments will be provided.