Aberdeen Universities UNISON

Have you VOTED yet!? Vote YES for Better Pay!

Pay talks with the University and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) ended in impasse, rather than agreement. UCEA made their latest final pay offer for 2023-24 during the ACAS facilitated dispute resolution talks in February: another below-inflation pay rise.

With RPI inflation at 13.8% in February 2023 and even CPI at 10.4%, like many other workers across the country, between 2022-23 and 2023-24 you are facing the prospect of the biggest ever real terms pay cut.

Vote YES to strike for the pay you deserve.

Higher Education Strike Ballot 2023

Categories: Ballot | Campaigns | Members | Pay | Strike

RGU STRIKE Update - December 2022

In the run-up to the Christmas break, here's another strike update video for you.

Follow us on FACEBOOK - we'll continue to send updates from the picket lines and on the overall dispute.  You can also see some of the photo's and videos from the picket lines this week as well.

Click here and like our page:
facebook.com/UNISONAUB

We're worth more - we can't afford less!

 

Categories: Campaigns | Pay | RGU | Strike

Strike Pay Claim Form

Members who have taken part in the RGU strike action are eligible to claim strike pay from UNISON.  Strike pay will be paid at the national rate, with a small additional supplement from the branch which will be determined once we have all the claims entered.  Strike pay is not taxable, so you are entitled to keep all of it.

The claim form is open for registrations now. 

Please complete the form as soon as possible - if you have already completed the form, there is no need to do it again.  The form will close for claims on Monday 5th December.  If you have not claimed by then, please contact me directly.
 
You will need your membership number when completing the form.  The link to the form has been emailed to all members - if you have not received it please check your spam folders, or contact Colin Jones at RGU, c.jones@rgu.ac.uk for assistance..

Categories: Pay | Campaigns | Strike

RGU STRIKE - November Dates

STRIKE - Take Action! 

Dates have now been announced for further industrial action at the Robert Gordon University over the derisory 3% pay award this year. 

We are asking all members to take strike action and not attend the workplace on the following dates:

• Thursday 24th November
• Friday 25th November

IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL MEMBERS JOIN THE STRIKE ACTION!! 

Only by standing together to reject the pay offer will anything change.  Enough is enough, and HE members simply can't absorb another below inflation pay rise.  It is time to take a stand and ensure that the university knows that the current pay award is unacceptable.

HE Pay Campaign 2022

Further information and FAQ on industrial action.

Categories: Branch | Campaigns | RGU | Strike

RGU STRIKE Update - September 2022

We had a great turnout on the picket lines for our first two days of strike action.  Rather than a long email, I though this time I'd do a short video update for you all - click here to watch it:



Follow us on FACEBOOK - we'll continue to send updates from the picket lines and on the overall dispute.  You can also see some of the photo's and videos from the picket lines this week as well.

Click here and like our page:
facebook.com/UNISONAUB

We're worth more - we can't afford less!

 

Categories: Branch | Campaigns | Pay | RGU | Strike

RGU STRIKE Update

Strike Dates

As previously communicated we are now taking strike action on Tuesday 20^th/Wednesday 21^st September, and Monday 3^rd/Tuesday 4^th October.  PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND THE WORKPLACE ON THESE DATES.  It is vitally important that everyone stands together to reject the pay offer as we look to negotiate an improvement.  Only by standing together will we have an impact.

• Tuesday 20th September
• Wednesday 21st September
• Monday 3rd October
• Tuesday 4th October

There is no requirement to notify your line manager in advance, and we would ask, for maximum impact that people do not do this, or make any arrangements that might lessen the impact of strike action.

Picket Lines

We need YOU!  We’re asking all members taking action to please come along to picket lines if they are able.  The more members we have on picket lines, the more impact we have.  Picket lines will be in place each strike day from 8am – 12noon.  Please come along to all or any dates and assemble initially at Sir Iain Wood Building where we will deploy to other buildings across campus, depending on numbers.

• PICKET LINES - Meet at front of SIWB, 8am each strike day.

RGU “Cost of Living Payment”

We were very disappointed that RGU decided to unilaterally announce a cost of living payment to all staff without any negotiation with UNISON today.  We were informed of this decision yesterday, and asked the University to pause and enter into discussions with regard to resolving the current dispute, however that was not forthcoming. 

This payment falls far short of our expectations, and indeed, is already far less than ongoing discussions at other Universities in Scotland.  It does not go anywhere near far enough. 

We have had staff already telling us how angry they are at the University’s decision and timing with this announcement.

Union Strike Pay

Any deductions by the employer for taking strike pay will be made in the October pay run onwards.  We will have details for how to claim UNISON Strike pay for members taking strike action after the 4^th October, and prior to the end of the month, which should allow us to make payments by bank transfer to members before the October pay date.  Further information will be made available soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Download full FAQ document

Categories: Campaigns | Pay | RGU | Strike

STRIKE! RGU Dates Announced

STRIKE - Take Action! 

Dates have now been announced for industrial action at the Robert Gordon University over the derisory 3% pay award this year. 

We are asking all members to take strike action and not attend the workplace on the following dates:

• Monday 19th September
  Monday strike action is no longer taking place due to State funeral.
   
• Tuesday 20th September
• Wednesday 21st September
• Monday 3rd October
• Tuesday 4th October

As you will have seen in earlier communications, almost 80% of members rejected this year's 3% pay award.  This offer is worth only £65 a month for many of our middle grades, and even though lower grades had a higher percentage applied to the national pay spine, those grades are already so low that the larger increases would have minimal effect due to us already paying above the pay spine points due to the fact that we, along with most other universities, already pay the real living wage rate.

With energy bills skyrocketing, and interest rates going up, that amount simply is not enough, especially as it come after years of below inflation pay awards (including 0% in 2020).

ALL MEMBERS JOIN THE STRIKE ACTION!! 

Only by standing together to reject the pay offer will anything change.  Enough is enough, and HE members simply can't absorb another below inflation pay rise.  It is time to take a stand and ensure that the university knows that the current pay award is unacceptable.

Further information and FAQ on industrial action.

Categories: Branch | Campaigns | Pay | RGU | Strike