GMB PRAISE UNI BOSSES FOR AGREEING GET ROUND THE TABLE OVER UNION SHUT OUT PLAN

GMB PRAISE UNI BOSSES FOR AGREEING GET ROUND THE TABLE OVER UNION SHUT OUT PLAN

GMB is glad the university has seen sense as creating a two tier system for staff will eat away at morale

GMB, the union for academic support staff, has praised the University of South Wales decision to enter into meaningful negotiations over a proposal to cut trade unions out.

A row between the GMB and the university was brewing over their plans to introduce an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) preventing new staff from joining the Local Government Pension Scheme. [1]

However after GMB submitted an emergency motion to Welsh Labour Party Conference –  which was then withdrawn without debate  – the University agreed to meet with trade union representatives.

During the past few weeks GMB, alongside sister unions at the University of South Wales, has accused the University of deliberately trying to circumvent the unions in the on-going pension dispute and would affect workers joining departments such as IT, estates and the academic registry from August 2018 [2]

Under the university’s proposed changes, new staff would be contracted into an arms-length private company set up by the university where no trade union recognitions exist, leaving new staff with no representation in negotiations with the university as well as losing access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Nicola Savage, GMB regional organiser for South Wales said:

“We’re glad that the university has seen sense and agreed to meet with us.

“GMB submitted the motion to Welsh Labour Conference to secure trade union recognition, a commitment to facility time for representatives and assurances regarding the application of Welsh framework agreements, codes and policies that currently apply to the university itself.  

“GMB is committed to supporting our members both current and new, and will enter into talks to ensure our members have the best possible future.

“Whilst we appreciate that the university has been handed a difficult spending arrangement that can trace its routes back to the UK Government, it can’t be right that any new staff on the lowest pay scales will have a worse deal than their colleagues.

“Creating a two tier system for staff, with some staff getting different pay, rights and protections will only eat away at staff morale.

“The smarter savings are made in the long run by having higher retention and productivity rates through a happy, valued and appreciated workforce.”