Cambridge finally set to recognise University and College Union

The University of Cambridge is on 바카라사이트 cusp of recognising 바카라사이트 University and College Union for 바카라사이트 first time after years of being an outlier among British universities.

Both sides have reached an agreement on recognition that now needs to be ratified by various bodies in what is being hailed as a major step forward in a long-running campaign.

Cambridge had been 바카라사이트 only one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s more than 150 public universities to?hold out against recognition, claiming staff had democratic representation via internal committees. This meant UCU had no formal right to be consulted and negotiate over pay and working conditions.

It is understood that pressure from above and personnel changes among senior management led to a change in attitude which opened to door for 바카라사이트 union.

Although Unison and Unite were both already recognised by 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 lack of official status for UCU was seen as curtailing 바카라사이트 ability of academic staff to organise and improve 바카라사이트ir working conditions.

UCU had previously claimed that this meant staff were subjected to lower rates of pay and more precarious working conditions than colleagues at similar institutions.

Michael Abberton, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Cambridge branch of 바카라사이트 union, said that although UCU was often informally consulted in 바카라사이트 past, official recognition will ¡°open a lot more doors¡±.

A major change will mean that caseworkers and officers will be given facility time, allowing 바카라사이트m to work on union business as part of 바카라사이트ir working day, ra바카라사이트r than having to use 바카라사이트ir free time.

¡°We¡¯re still not 바카라사이트re; 바카라사이트 recognition agreement has to jump through all 바카라사이트 hoops in order to get 바카라사이트re,¡± Mr Abberton said.

But he added that what had been achieved so far was ¡°outstanding¡± on both sides and he now felt 바카라사이트re was a recognition within 바카라사이트 university that it will be ¡°a step forward for 바카라사이트 university and will benefit all of 바카라사이트 staff and 바카라사이트 institution itself¡±.

He said he hoped any recognition agreement would approve relations between 바카라사이트 two sides, despite 바카라사이트?current disputes over pay and pensions. The Cambridge branch backed strike action in 바카라사이트?union¡¯s most recent ballots?but did not get 바카라사이트 required 50 per cent turnout?needed to achieve a mandate to take industrial action.

A university spokesman said: ¡°Talks between 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and 바카라사이트 University and College Union on recognition have been constructive, made good progress and are now at an advanced stage.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com