Cardiff University and Cardiff UCU

Joint statement on progress of negotiations in relation to hourly paid teaching staff

 

Negotiations on the position of hourly paid teaching staff have been ongoing since June 2008.

 

Twelve meetings have been held.  Meetings in the first months focussed on clarification of the issues and on collection, exchange and discussion of information requested by CUCU.  Negotiations since October have focussed on the nature of the roles under discussion and assessment of appropriate grading.  This has been a critical issue to resolve as it is not possible to discuss the detailed mechanisms for assimilation or backdating until there is clarity about where on the scale rates would be assimilated and the implications of that.

 

The negotiations cover a range of issues:

 

 

Current position

Brief description of area for negotiation

Mutually acceptable solution reached in principle

Revised written CU Proposal under discussion

grading of variety of posts across University

 

(10/1)

access to regrading process

 

 

the assimilation of the hourly pay rates to the single spine

 

(10/1)

the weighting attached to the hourly rate of pay

 

(10/1)

Holiday pay

 

 

the assimilation of individuals to grades and pay rates

 

(10/1)

arrangements for back pay

 

(10/1)

Types of contracts for specific circumstances and detailed contractual terms

 

(10/1)

Calculation of continuous service

 

(10/1)

Arrangements for induction, probation, appraisal and development

 

 

Application of Statute XVIII (Academic staff)

 

 

Protection from redundancy arising from restructuring in response to the outcome of these negotiations

 

 

 

 

The good progress made in December in relation to grading of posts enables the negotiations to move on to detailed consideration of how an agreement would be implemented in practice across this disparate group of employees.  A detailed discussion paper with options has been produced by the University and is being considered by the negotiating team.

 

It is anticipated that, with good will on both sides, a proposal which is the best achievable by negotiation can be released for public scrutiny in March 2009. Any settlement would be subject to approval by UCU’s national framework ratification committee and by Cardiff UCU members.

 

Jayne Dowden, Cardiff University

Todd Bailey, Cardiff UCU