How to turn an Inclusion Report into an Exclusion Report

Nearly two years ago Queen Mary comissioned a report into racism and other equalities issues at Queen Mary. Last summer the 'Inclusion Report' with appendices containing testimonies from members of staff was finally produced and presented to the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group. However by the time it was made available to staff, these … Continue reading How to turn an Inclusion Report into an Exclusion Report

Equalities Issues and Institutional Racism at Queen Mary

In 2019 QM UCU, in partnership with QM UNISON, initiated a series of gatherings for protected characteristic groups of staff and students at Queen Mary, in response to concerns about equalities at Queen Mary, the results of the Staff Survey, the BAME / gender pay gap report and Diversity and Inclusion manager Sandra Brown’s resignation … Continue reading Equalities Issues and Institutional Racism at Queen Mary

Guidance on your employment rights: non-renewal of fixed term contracts

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

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?

Strike!

The strike is ON as yesterday’s negotiations offer no improvement. UCU negotiators met with the University and College Employer Association (UCEA) this week in the hope of finding a solution to the current dispute amidst growing anger over news that vice-chancellor pay rose by 6.1% last year. Regrettably UCEA made no improvement on the 1.1% … Continue reading Strike!