Aberdeen Universities UNISON

Christmas Competition 2016 Results

The branch held our prize draw for our fantastic Christmas Competition on on Monday and we're pleased to announce we now have our five prize winners for this year.

The prizes this year were:

• an amazing Sony Playstation 4 1TB, with 3 games included and a £50 Amazon Voucher to expand your collection. 
• our ever popular Dinner and a Show for Two (x2)
• and Silent Night Christmas hampers (x2)

Our prize winners were drawn by our independent adjudicator on Monday and were:

• First Prize:  Richard Milne
• Second Prizes:  Liz Law & David Milne
• Third Prizes:  Richard Massie & Kenneth Sadler

Our competition this year was a spot the difference and members were asked to say how many differences there were between our two festive snowmen.  The options were five, six or seven.

There were a lot of eagle eyed people out there who got the right answer - the correct answer was SIX.

Congratulations to all our winners, and to everyone out there, have a Happy Christmas and New Year!

Categories: Members | Benefits | Branch

Branch Christmas Competition 2016

Once more we are running our fantastic Christmas Competition, which is open to members only for all our current UNISON members at both the Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen.

Prizes this year are an amazing Sony Playstation 4 1TB, with 3 games included and a £50 Amazon Voucher to expand your collection. We'll also have our ever popular Dinner and a Show for Two, and Silent Night Christmas hampers.

We will be sending out competition entry forms by post, but it’s just as easy – and faster – to enter online instead:

• aub-unison.org.uk/christmas  

Don’t leave it too late to send your entry - enter today!

Categories: Members | Benefits | Branch

Vote "YES" for Strike Action

UPDATE:  (Sept 2016) The result of the ballot was to only narrowly in favour of strike action.  The HE Executive therefore took the decision not to proceed with Industrial Action in this instance.

UNISON is balloting members in higher education, 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.

Make sure you VOTE in the ballot - papers are being sent direct to members homes.

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 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.

For more information see the Higher Education Pay 2016 website.

Categories: Pay | Campaigns

UNISON Consults on Final Pay Offer

We have now received a "full and final" written pay offer from the national employers’ organisation the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

The offer for 2016-17 follows pay talks between the employers and joint higher ed unions, and consists of:

• a 1.1% increase from 1 August for all staff covered by the higher education national agreement, who are on point 8 and above of the national pay spine;
• increases of between 3.1% and 1.6% for staff on points 1 to 7 of the spine (note this is not the same as "grades" at the universities - see below)

UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive, the union’s national committee for HE, is consulting members on this offer.

Read more...

Categories: Pay | Members | Consultation | Campaigns | Branch

IWMD and May Day March 2016

There are two major events coming up soon organised by the Aberdeen Trades Union Council which we'd encourage all branch member's to attend. 

Aberdeen May Day March & Rally

The annual May Day March for International Workers' Day will take place this year on Saturday 30th April.

All trade unions, community organisations, friends and families are encouraged to attend - bring your banners and placards, and let's make this march the biggest ever!

Groups gather at Rubislaw Terrace from 11.00am, for 11.30am march off.  The march will progress down Union Street to a rally and speakers at Castlegate from 12.15am.  Come along and support this important event!  Download the May Day 2016 Poster.

International Worker's Memorial Day

All over the world on 28th April each year organisations hold events to mark International Worker's Memorial Day.  The purpose of IWMD is two-fold. Firstly it is about not forgetting those who have died, been injured, or made ill by their work. Secondly it is about ensuring that this tragic loss and suffering are used to reinvigorate the campaign for healthier and safer work.

The campaign slogan is "Remember the dead, fight for the living."

The Aberdeen ceremony will take place on Thursday 28th April at Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, meet at 12.30pm for the ceremony at 1pm.  The ceremony will take approximately 30 minutes.

Everyone is welcome and invited to attend.  Download the IWMD 2016 Poster.

Categories: Events | Members | Branch

EU Referendum Consultation

The National Executive Council (NEC) has launched a consultation of UNISON Branches about the European Union (EU) Referendum taking place on 23^rd June 2016. The information collected from the consultation will be used to assist the National Executive Council in taking any policy and campaign decisions on the EU referendum in the run up to the referendum date.

UNISON wants to ensure that members’ voices are heard in this important debate. To help with the branch consultation UNISON has provided an Information for Members pack on the EU referendum. This will help members and branches understand more clearly what the issues and implications are when debating whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU and the impact of any decision on UK workers and trade unionists.

Branch members have been emailed a consultation survey.  If you haven't received a copy please contact us, and we'll send you one.  The branch consultation is running until 31^st March 2016.

Categories: Members | Consultation | Branch

UNISON Branch AGM 2016

It's now time for the branch Annual General Meeting, and this year we're doing things a bit differently, so we hope you'll be able to come along.  The AGM will be held on two days at lunchtimes, with one meeting at RGU and the other at UofA.  Please make every effort to come along to one of them.

Refreshments will be provided from 12 noon and the AGM meetings will start at 12.30pm.

University of Aberdeen

Tuesday 8th March 2016: 12 noon – 2.00pm
Johnston Hall, Aberdeen University Student Association
Let us know if you're coming - click here

Robert Gordon University

Thursday 10th March 2016: 12 noon – 2.00pm
Room SB01, Garthdee House Annexe (formerly Scott Sutherland Building)
Let us know if you're coming - click here

Papers and agendas will be sent out to members in advance of the meetings.  Please also ensure you complete and submit any nomination forms for stewards and branch officers prior to the meeting.

Categories: Events | Members | Branch