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Website URL : http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1868
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 UCU has put equality at the heart of its activities on behalf of its members. Some UCU branches/local associations (LAs) have equality officers who can assist you if you have any concerns on an equality-related issue. Otherwise your UCU departmental rep or other branch/LA officer will be able to help. To find out if there is an equality officer at your branch and how to contact them ask your departmental rep or branch/LA secretary/president. If you don't know how to contact any local UCU representative contact your regional office. The local contact finder will tell you the relevant regional office for your institution. Equality unitUCU has a national team of staff with expertise and involvement in the whole equality agenda. They implement the policies and priorities determined by members through the democratic lay structures'.
If you have a general equality query, or to join one of our Equality network mailing lists (LGBT, Disabled Members, Women & Black Members) contact eqadmin@ucu.org.uk If you think you might be interested in becoming a UCU equality officer you can find out more about what is involved on the Being a rep page. Latest Equality NewsEquality ToolkitUCU has published its Equality Toolkit. The materials in this booklet give information about the equality officer functions; about the legal framework that underpins equality at work, and the structures that help us to organise effectively. It is available to download below for free and hard copies will soon be in stock. If you would like a hard copy please contact eqadmin@ucu.org.uk
April 2012 Equality NewsletterThe latest UCU Equality Newsletter is available to download below. In this bumper edition: 1. New Equality Administrator 2. Congress - Equality Fringe Meetings 3. Women's TUC Conference 2012 4. Guidance on Trans Equality in Post-School Education 5. EHRC Begins to Monitor Public Bodies' Compliance with Equality Act 6. Learning from Disability Equality Schemes in HE 7. TUC Paternity Leave Briefing 8. ESOL Campaign Launched 9. Hidden in Plain Sight 10. Holocaust and Women's Wall Charts Updated 11. UCU Religious Attire Policy finalised 12. LGBT Research Conference 13. Mental Health Awareness Week 14. Model Policies
Anti semitism Leaflet UCU has launched a new leaflet on Anti Semitism. You can download it below, or contact eqadmin@ucu.org.uk for a hard copy.  Anti Semitism Leaflet (.pdf) [2.2Mb]International Women's Day Wall Chart
New Trans Guidance Published Marking LGBT History Month the Forum for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Post-School Education has published guidance on trans equality in post-school education. You can download it below. Please also find below downloadable application forms to attend two launch events for the guidance, in London on the 1st of March, and Coventry on the 2nd of March.
Holocaust Wall Chart
Public Sector Equality Duty draft letter Please find below a model letter to request details of how your institution is complying with the specific public sector equality duties in England. The letter can be adapted and sent to the person responsible for leading on your institution's public sector equality duties. Please note that Scottish and Welsh specific duties differ to those in England, and Northern Ireland has separate legislation. In England the specific duties regulations will require institutions to publish:
This letter can be followed by the one in the TUC's own guidance, available here You can use the letter in the TUC guide as a follow up on particular policies or processes. It makes clear that the institutions should be carrying out an Equality Impact Assessment (as is UCU and TUC policy) and enquires as to how institutions propose to demonstrate their adherence to the public sector equality duty if not through EIAs. The UCU Equality Committee are keen to know how branches are using the new duty, the response from employers and receive examples of good and poor practice. Please send your experiences and any agreement to Helen Carr, Head of Equality hcarr@ucu.org.uk.
Implementing the public sector equality duty - a UCU ToolkitPlease find below the new UCU Public Sector Equality Duty Toolkit. The public sector equality duty came into force on 5th April 2011 and is supported by specific duties. These came into force in England on 10 September 2011. As you will know your employers were previously subject to three separate equality duties relating to race, disability and gender equality. Each was underpinned by further duties in secondary legislation (specific duties) with different features, timescales and reporting requirements. Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 consolidates and harmonises the race, gender and disability duties into one and has extended coverage of the duty to age, gender reassignment, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and sexual orientation. Although the Equality Duty applies to England, Scotland and Wales, Scotland and Wales are able to set their own specific duties. The specific duties in Wales came in to force on 6 April 2011 and specific duties that will apply to Scottish public bodies are still being decided. The UCU Wales Office have produced a workbook on the duties relating to Wales, which you can also find for download below. The Equality Duty does not apply to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has separate legislation. In England the specific duties regulations will require institutions to publish:
The UCU Equality Committee are keen to know how branches are using the new duty, the response from employers and receive examples of good and poor practice. Please send your experiences and any agreement to Helen Carr, Head of Equality hcarr@ucu.org.uk.The Government will be reviewing the new duty in two years time. UCU needs to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new duty so we can submit strong evidence to the review. Scotland - consultation on the specific duties for Scotland will run until 25 November 2011 and UCU will be responding. The TUC has also produced its own Public Sector Equality Duty Toolkit, which is also available below for download.
Age Equality FAQUCU has produced a frequently asked questions guide to the issues surrounding age equality. It provides information on how age discrimination is protected against in equality legislation, age equality in employment (incorporating the scrapping of the default retirement age) and advice on how to take action. You can download the guidance here: ECJ ruling on compulsory retirement: Fuchs and anor v Land HessenThis is an important decision of the European Court of Justice. It concerns the ability of an employer to continue to follow a mandatory retirement policy and may be relied upon as an authority in tribunal and court hearings in the UK: download the ruling (.pdf) One in Four - a briefing on mental health at workUCU has produced a briefing on mental health at work entitled One in Four, reflecting the one in four people who will experience some kind of mental health condition in the course of a year. It is intended to assist branches in supporting members who may need mental health support and seeks to offer practical advice and guidance for branch representatives, including health and safety representatives.
Disability History Month wall chart
KEY LINKS There are advice leaflets for members on various types of discrimination, bullying and harassment in the getting support section of this website. If you have a general equality query, contact eqadmin@ucu.org.uk UCU has negotiated national equality agreements in both HE and FE (see pay and conditions section) which branches/LAs strive to get implemented locally. The national equality unit (see above) supports branches/LAs and regional offices on equality issues and work to influence government policy on equality. We live in a period of rapidly changing equality legislation. News on recent developments is to be found in the bi-monthly Equality News and the monthly electronic newsletter Equality Extra. Also see below for the latest UCU equality publications or view the equality publications page for a full list. The union provides many opportunities for members to become involved in our equality work. UCU organises events specifically for black members, disabled members, LGBT members and women members (see specific pages for these groups). We also have email lists for each of these groups, which you can join by emailing eqadmin@ucu.org.uk. Helping out at a local level is a great way to promote equality at your workplace - you don't necessarily need to become an equality officer, just an offer to circulate newsletters or put up posters for example will be appreciated. See How do I get involved? for more information. If you do think you might be interested in becoming a UCU equality officer you can find out more about what is involved on the Being a rep page. UCU policy on equality is determined democratically by our members,
See the specific pages for: for more information. UCU has also developed policies and negotiated agreements on age and religion or belief. While our prime concern is to fight for greater equality at work, we also strive to campaign against injustices members face in other areas of their lives, whether on grounds of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, age or any other aspect of identity which can lead to discrimination. Related documents
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