Who's Side Are You On? : VOTE YES

Billy Bragg again. Anyone want to post other suggestions of union classics on our facebook pages? The best suggestion / most popular becomes our official Branch Anthem. Check out the Pete Seeger Song "which side are you on, on youtube for a Union classic

Power In the Union - GET THE VOTE OUT

Billy Bragg tells us why there is still power in the organised.

London Met UNISON Branch Backs the Middlesex University Branch

We are not alone: London Met UNISON offer their support.

London Met UNISON notes with concern the proposal by the management of Middlesex University to make 200 compulsory redundancies.

This is both a betrayal of trust and a slap in the face for hard working members of our union.

We gather you aim to resist these attacks and for this we salute your stance.

Having fought even greater numbers of redundancy proposals in 2009 ourselves, by which we saved 200 jobs and being currently in dispute over a succession of new rolling compulsory redundancies amounting to close to 200 (so far) over the last year, we extend our solidarity to Middlesex UNISON and Middlesex UCU in your own fight.

London Met UNISON pledge to support you in whatever way we can, and encourage your members to stand up with your Branch Committee and fight for every job.

We have shown in our branch that union action can really make a difference. Nothing is set in stone if unions unite and fight together.

London Met Branch Committee

Middlesex UNISON Branch thanks London Met for their Solidarity.

Messages of Support can be sent to UNISON1@mdx.ac.uk

Middlesex University UNISON Branch Ballots for Industrial Action

Press Release: Full PDF document here

The fight over job losses at Middlesex University represents a fight against the impact of national government spending cuts in the Higher Education sector, as well as the way they are being implemented at the University.
Since the announcement of compulsory redundancies at Middlesex on the 9th June, UNISON has sought to negotiate with the University to avoid recourse to compulsory redundancies. We have questioned the University over their use of outside consultants and outsourcing companies (£2.5 million) failed business ventures in India (Noida) and the University estates strategy.

Middlesex University in its financial statements has claimed that staff costs to income remains “one of the lowest in the sector” yet it still believes it can cut further posts and retain the same level of service and education to its students. UNISON believes that these severe and drastic cuts represent a serious risk to the University, cutting too fast and too deep, damaging key areas of the University business.

The University prides itself on recent gains made in delivering the “Student Experience”: National Student Survey 2010, Guardian League Table 2011 and Complete University Guide 2012. Middlesex University UNISON Branch Secretary : Paul Howell states: “These gains have been delivered by University staff, now threatened with being made compulsory redundant. The increased workloads and stress created for the staff left behind will do little to improve this reputation, the University has used up what little good will it has.”
UNISON members at Middlesex have shown time and again at Branch Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings that they will not take these attacks on their jobs lying down. 

UNISON members have indicated overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot that they are prepared to back up this intention with industrial action.

This is action UNISON believes the Students Union and Students at large will support, and UNISON will continue to work with the Students Union in this campaign. 

Branch Secretary: Paul Howell states “Students recognise that these cuts are an attack on their education, the University still hasn’t adequately answered how they intend to mitigate the impact of these job losses on the student experience”

Middlesex UNISON does not take such action lightly, we have in conjunction with the academic and lecturers union (UCU) sought to resolve our dispute to avoid the need for Compulsory Redundancies and without recourse to industrial action. Even at this late stage UNISON would welcome a meeting with representatives from the University management to discuss a meaningful redundancy avoidance policy and an improved voluntary redundancy package to allow staff wishing to leave the University the opportunity to do so.

The UNISON ballot will open on the 2nd September and closes on the 23rd September. Subsequent action will be co-ordinated with UCU. Middlesex University UNISON Branch Committee.

UCU and UNISON Joint Meeting

UNISON and UCU are holding a joint meeting this Thursday 18th to continue to co-ordinate and discuss potential joint action in the light of continuing plans for compulsory redundancies at Middlesex University.

UNISON / UCU Joint Meeting : Hendon Campus  Room: CG41  Time: 12 – 2pm

All members of UNISON are invited to attend. Or attend as much as you can manage.

UCU colleagues and Committee members will also be in attendance. Representatives from the Students Union have also been invited.

Please make every effort to come to this meeting. As a Branch we need your input into how we progress from here. Both UCU and UNISON will use this opportunity to update you with the current situation, and propose measures that both Unions membership can participate in.

All UNISON members are entitled to time to attend this meeting. Members at the Archway and Trent Park campuses can contact the unison1@mdx.ac.uk mailbox if they require transport to Hendon be organised for them.

Regards

Middlesex UNISON Branch Committee

Temporary Website Preview

Middlesex UNISON website

This is a preview of a temporary website for the Middlesex Unison Branch. It is being developed to provide information and act as a repository of documents that members can access to recruit new members or keep up to date with Branch activities. Please email your comments to mdxbranchlines@gmail.com

Lunchtime Rally 30th June

On the 30th June members of Middlesex University UNISON Branch gathered in their lunch hour to support their UCU colleagues taking industrial action about changes to their Pensions and to raise awareness of the proposed redundancies at Middlesex. Members of the Branch spent their time distributing flyers and talking to staff, students and members of the public about the impact of Government Cuts and the local impact at Middlesex University, whilst several drivers passing by serenaded us with a few supportive sounds from their horns. Below are few photos of the event. Thank you also to Colleagues and members at the Archway Campus who also arranged similar events.