Author: ucusussexadmin

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Unlike other university leaders, the Chair of Council and UEG continue to refuse to share Sussex’s response to the recent UUK consultation on the USS 2020 valuation. This valuation is critical in determining the future of the scheme, since it proposes increases to contribution rates from the current level of 30.7% to between 40.8% and…

UEG/UCU Joint Statement on Spring Semester Teaching

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This week, following intensive negotiations, we agreed a joint statement with the University Executive Group on face-to-face teaching in the Spring Semester. The full statement is below and is also available on the university website. Although we continue to believe that, with necessary exceptions, all face-to-face teaching should be moved online, our key objective was…

Statement of Solidarity for IT staff at Brighton University

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Photo credit: Ryan Burns Sussex University staff and students stand in solidarity with all colleagues at Brighton University, and particularly those IT staff facing redundancy. Now more than ever, IT services are at the centre of university life. From providing vital support for students and staff, to facilitating essential digital infrastructures holding the university together…

Joint unions statement on call for staff to volunteer to help with mass Covid-19 testing

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One month ago Sussex University staff were asked to answer a poll on cost cutting within the University. This understandably prompted concerns about job security, pay and working conditions, and we are still awaiting an update on the University’s financial situation or what cost cutting measures may be implemented. One week ago all staff were…

15 reasons why face-to-face teaching should not be compulsory in a pandemic

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The position of Sussex UCU, as confirmed by vote in our EGM of 28 September, is that face-to-face (in-person) teaching, like all on-campus work during the pandemic, should be voluntary, and not compulsory, and should not carry the threat of disciplinary actions and dismissal. Sussex UCU supports the UCU national position that universities should take…

In-person teaching during the pandemic: is it really about student mental health?

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Over the last few months, the issue of student mental health has moved to the centre of debates in or around UK Higher Education. It is seldom away from newspaper headlines, government guidelines or communications from Vice Chancellors, including Adam Tickell at Sussex, whose weekly ‘View from the VC’ on 11 September marked the point…

Why Inviting Police onto Campus is Not Reassuring

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On Thursday 5 November University of Sussex Vice Chancellor Adam Tickell wrote to all staff announcing a heightened police presence on campus. Having explained that last Saturday saw “a very heavy Police presence on campus” because of “incidents involving Sussex students’”, the Vice Chancellor confirmed that the police have now been invited to patrol campus.…

Sussex union and students press the University to halt redundancies at Chartwells

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As the University of Sussex’s catering contractor Chartwells presses ahead with plans to make 70% of its staff redundant on 17 November despite the extension of the government furlough scheme, unions and students have written to the University outlining why it must step in to stop this. 23 October 2020 From: Sussex campus unions To:…

Sussex UCU branch view on the proposed USS 2020 valuation

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Prepared for the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the University of Sussex by the Sussex UCU Pensions working group, in response to the USS 2020 valuation discussion document published September 2020. All Sussex UCU members and wider groups of staff were consulted throughout the preparation of this view. Employers have been asked to respond by…

Letter to VC from a UCU Member

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