Tag: higher-education

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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…

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…

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 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…

Mass catering job cuts planned at the University of Sussex

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Trade Unions condemn “Fire and rehire scandal PRESS RELEASE Chartwells, which provides the majority of catering at the University of Sussex, have announced they will make over 70% of their staff redundant on 17 November. This puts 39 of 55 posts at risk. They have also made clear that they will employ agency workers. Chartwells…

Joint statement by University of Sussex campus unions on reopening for teaching this term

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8th September 2020 Since the University of Sussex moved teaching and professional services online in March, the campus unions have been in negotiations and attempted negotiations with University management regarding the means of safely re-opening for teaching in the autumn. However in light of recent scientific evidence and the increasing national incidence of Covid-19 we…

The Sussex Financial Review Guidelines: A Report to Members of Sussex UCU, Unison and Unite

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The University Executive Group (UEG) issued the Sussex Financial Review Guidelines (FRGs) to Heads of School and Divisional Directors on 25th March, with an accompanying note from the VC stating that budget holders ‘must strictly adhere to‘ them (bold in original). There was no prior consultation on the guidelines with the campus Trade Unions. After…

Joint campus union statement on University of Sussex Financial Review Guidelines

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On Wednesday 25 March, a set of ‘Financial Review Guidelines’ were emailed to all Heads of School and other budget holders at the University of Sussex, and then shared to a number of staff. This communication caused a considerable amount of anxiety to those who received it, as it contained proposals to ‘terminate’ some temporary…

Responding to Covid-19 in Higher Education with leadership, compassion, courage and justice

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