The expiry and non-renewal of a fixed-term contract is regarded in law as a dismissal. If a contract isn’t renewed this is considered to be a dismissal, and if the employee has 2 years’ service the employer needs to show that there’s a ‘fair’ reason for not renewing the contract (eg. if they were planning … Continue reading Guidance on your employment rights: non-renewal of fixed term contracts
Voluntary Options and Casualised Staff
The following was sent to Senior Management on 20th July 2020 Dear Queen Mary SMT, It has come to our attention that some QM staff who may have been eligible for the Voluntary Severance did not receive notification of the options available to them. This is an extremely serious situation, and we therefore request that the VS scheme … Continue reading Voluntary Options and Casualised Staff
QMUCU Passes Emergency Corona Contract Motion
At a well-attended emergency branch meeting on 30 April, QMUCU members discussed the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having (and is likely to have, moving into the next academic year) on casualised staff at QM. Having heard from the inspirational Aimée Le, one of the organisers of the national #CoronaContract campaign, as well as … Continue reading QMUCU Passes Emergency Corona Contract Motion
Why Are We Striking?
British higher education is being destroyed by marketisation. Students suffer vast fee increases and higher living costs, forcing many to work virtually full-time jobs to survive. On campus, they encounter packed seminar rooms and overcrowded libraries, with overworked, stressed-out staff struggling to provide the help that students need. Staff pay and pensions are continually … Continue reading Why Are We Striking?
Zero Tolerance needs Deeds not Words
QMUCU calls for action to follow zero tolerance statement on bullying and harassment QMUCU has been calling on the university to take a public zero tolerance stance for years. We welcome this statement, even if it has come so late. But words are not enough. Five deeds that will make a difference 1) Overhaul the … Continue reading Zero Tolerance needs Deeds not Words
Free union membership for PhD students
Postgraduate students are already able to join UCU for free, and now PhD students who teach can become full members of the union for free too. Join UCU for free! Why join? Being a full member of UCU entitles you to access to employment advice, direct advocacy and advice by local UCU representatives, a range … Continue reading Free union membership for PhD students
Meeting for postgraduate students on 22 November
All PhD and masters students are invited to a meeting on Wednesday 22 November 2017, 1-2pm in the Graduate Centre, room 202. Why come? Meet each other and your current reps Share concerns and ideas for improving your experience at Queen Mary, for example: Are you treated fairly in your teaching work? Do you have … Continue reading Meeting for postgraduate students on 22 November
Campaign success for Demonstrators
After a campaign by QM UCU’s members, Demonstrators were given a 14% pay rise starting in September 2017. For the first time, they also have a clear job profile and formal contracts to set out their responsibilities and to stop departments using the role as a cut-price Teaching Associate. What next? We need to work … Continue reading Campaign success for Demonstrators
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