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Date:

26 April 2022

Present:

Professor G Valentine (GV) (in the Chair), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Hartley (SH),  J Jones (JJ), Professor J Litster (JL), R Sykes (RS), Professor M Vincent (MV), Professor C Watkins (CW)

In attendance:

T Wray (TW), I Wright (IW); J Butler (JB) (Item 1), Dr M Butler (MAB) (Item 2), A Williams (AW) (Item 3)

Apologies:

Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), Professor K Lamberts (KL);  Professor C Newman (CN), Professor D Petley (DNP)

Secretary:

Dr E Smith (ES)

1. Closed Minute and Paper

2. Closed Minute and Paper

3. Closed Minute and Paper

4. Industrial Action: Report from Incident Management Team

   • UEB considered a verbal report from the IMT. It was confirmed that the campus branch of the University and College Union (UCU) had received a mandate for strike action and action short of a strike (ASOS) on the issues of pay and working conditions and pensions that would last until 8 October 2022. The specific industrial action to be taken and the timescale over which it would take place had not yet been determined, but was expected to be clarified once the UCU had held the second of its national HE Committee meetings on 27 April. As part of initial preparations, the University had drafted guidance for HoDs on addressing a potential marking and assessment boycott for Semester 2 examinations, which would be published as and when required, alongside guidance relating to lost learning and the appropriate mitigations. APSE was also preparing the necessary guidance regarding the learning and teaching aspects of any possible boycott.

   • In respect of the national pay negotiations for 2022/23, it was reported that the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) had increased its overall pay offer from 2.9% to 3.05%.

   • UEB supported the principle of broad alignment with sector peers with regard to pay deductions for staff who participated in a Semester 2 marking and assessment boycott. The institutional position would be confirmed once UCU had communicated the specific actions it would ask its members to take.

5. Round Table

   • Honorary Staff: UEB discussed the institutional approach to account provision for Honorary staff, and agreed that such staff did not require a University email account as a general principle. Where such an account was required, a consistent process should be rolled out in which a business case was made to the relevant FVP. UEB would receive further recommendations in due course.

   • May 2022 Graduation Ceremonies: TW updated UEB on communications pertaining to the May graduation ceremonies, including details of the Presiding Officers and the relevant graduating cohorts.