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The EGM then considered a motion put forward by the Branch Committee, which noted that “[d]espite repeated requests, university management have failed to respond to key issues regarding Health and Safety under Covid-19.” /2
As a result, @NewcastleUniUCU asked the branch to resolve to: Declare a formal failure to agree with the University over inadequate engagement with the union over Covid-19 leading to a danger to our members & to staff & students, their families & the wider community in general./3
Many UCU members voiced their concerns about returning to campus for teaching and working that could, during a global pandemic, be carried out WFH. The motion passed with a very high margin in favour. /4
The second motion, put forward by @BruceHistorian, asked the branch to request resolution on the health & safety matters from management by Monday. /5
Failure to address this, on the part of management, would mean that “this branch will immediately and without delay begin the process of balloting for industrial action, to include the option of both indefinite strike and indefinite action short of a strike.” /6
This motion also passed, with a strong majority in favour.
The branch had a powerful and sustained discussion about the impact on students. /7
The branch had a powerful and sustained discussion about the impact on students. /7
We are now formally in dispute over two things: the blanket requirement to do inessential present-in-person teaching (PiP), and because risk assessments for the buildings in which our staff and students work, doing essential PiP work, needs to be much stronger. /8
This is not a decision we take lightly, and we stand with other institutions around the country who are being driven towards industrial action because of the disregard for health & safety of members, such as @UCUHallam @warwickucu @lancasterucu @bristol_ucu /9
No campus can be “COVID-secure”, unless a robust test & trace system is in place. @NewcastleUniUCU has grave concerns about the impact of Covid-19 on the local communities. /10
We ask that students join us, in these unprecedented times, to push management to halt Present-in-Person teaching, aside from that teaching which must be done on campus (e.g. laboratory work/practicals). /11
Keeping the campus to a low capacity will ensure the safety of ALL students and ALL staff – and our local communities. /12
The uncertainty of the return to PiP teaching is contributing to high levels of anxiety and mental health problems for staff and students. /13
We ask that @UniofNewcastle do the right thing, and demonstrate generous and responsive leadership in acknowledging the extreme circumstances under which we are all operating, and under which we will be working and studying for some time to come. /14
Together we are stronger – the threat of passing Covid-19 to a single student, who could be severely debilitated or could die is something which is hanging over staff. This is not pedagogy. /15 /fin
