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About Birkbeck UCU

We are the Birkbeck branch of the University and College Union (UCU). The UCU represents over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians, technicians, professional staff and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK. 

We help you and your colleagues in four main ways: 

  1. Representation - protection at work in case things go wrong.
  2. Negotiation - locally and nationally on pay and working conditions.
  3. Engagement - help to make Birkbeck a better place for all who work and study here.
  4. Information - find out what is going on at Birkbeck and across the sector.

What the Birkbeck UCU does

Organising and campaigning 

We organise around issues that are facing our members in higher education, connecting local concerns with broader changes in the sector. If you have any campaigns you would like to initiate or you think we should be involved in, do get in touch. The AGM, general meetings and the branch committee meetings are the principal fora for discussion of Birkbeck UCU policy. 

If you would like to come along to the next committee meeting please .

Representation

UCU can offer representation and advice if you are facing: 

  • Disciplinary or grievance hearings 
  • Probation hearings
  • Termination of contract 
  • Health and safety problems 
  • Bullying or harassment 
  • Any other issues relating to your terms and conditions of employment

Contact your school UCU representative in the first instance who may be able to help with minor queries. If the issue is more serious, the school representative may direct you to the casework co-ordinator or another member of the UCU committee.  

Negotiations 

At Birkbeck, relations between UCU and management are governed by a Procedural Agreement which places obligations on both sides. It states that changes to ‘customary and contractual’ conditions of employment may only be introduced by mutual agreement. 

Any changes to policies affecting staff are formally agreed at the Staff Joint Committee (SJC), before being presented to governors for approval. The SJC is also the forum for settling any disagreements. The SJC is chaired alternately by the Vice Chancellor and by the unions and each meeting is in two parts, one for all Birkbeck unions together; the other for matters specifically concerning academic and related staffs. 

Nationally, UCU negotiates with the employers' representatives on issues such as pay, pensions, and conditions. 

UCU locally has been involved in Birkbeck's framework negotiations. This has seen the implementation of a single pay spine, a job evaluation procedure, an appeals procedure, a contribution-related pay policy and harmonisation of policies on TOIL, overtime, sick absence, notice period etc. 

Who UCU represents

Birkbeck University and College Union is the recognised union for the following: 

  • Academic staff 
  • Administrative, computing and academic-related staff on grades 7 and above 
  • Librarians
  • Research staff
  • Postgraduate students

This means we negotiate terms and conditions with the College management team on behalf of these groups and, nationally, UCU negotiates pay for these categories of staff. 

If you are grade 6 or below (and not in one of the above categories), then you should join Unison. Technical and craft staff should join Unite.

How to join 

You can join online via the national UCU website. This is the quickest way to become a member of UCU. Paper application forms take longer to process and you need to post them to UCU HQ, so it is best to join online.  

There are reduced rates for part-time and lower paid staff, and PhD students who are not earning may join the union for free (and can switch each term between paid and unpaid as their status changes). 

Union membership is more than just an 'insurance policy' in case things go wrong, or a token recognition of the services of the body that negotiates on your behalf. It is an opportunity for 'active citizenship,' one of the ways in which you can contribute to the health and wellbeing of Birkbeck as an institution, help make it a better place for everyone, and improve its contribution to wider society. 

UCU committee members and representatives are all volunteers. Our union roles and tasks are in addition to our 'day jobs'. Our work benefits individual members and Birkbeck as an institution, through promoting fairer policies and management, and better organisational health and democracy. Union membership is about contributing as well as taking. The union and its support to you will only be as good as you make it, so we also need you to get involved.