FE BRANCH OFFICERS UPDATE
11 January 2013
Update on Workloads Campaign and Pay Claim for 2013/14
Dear Colleagues
Happy New Year! 
Workload
You will be aware that in order to launch our campaign over workloads I wrote to all college principals in October asking them to confirm by the end of December that they will adopt the terms of the national agreement –“Regulating Working Hours in FE Colleges”
To date we have not had any response whatsoever from most colleges and those  that have replied generally fail to address the most important part of the agreement – to simply commit to carry out risk assessments of current working hours and duties to ensure they are not resulting in a negative impact on the health and safety of staff. 
All replies to my letter have been sent to branch officers for their comments on whether they are satisfactory or otherwise. If you have been sent such correspondence please contact your regional office as soon as possible with your comments. We will then advise further and/or follow up with your college. 
The next stage of the campaign is a follow up letter to colleges that have not replied. This was sent on 8 January and is copied below for your information. Please bring this letter to the attention of your members.
As you will see the letter explicitly highlights the need for a commitment to undertaking risk assessments of working hours and makes clear that colleges risk a trade dispute and industrial action if they continue to ignore or do not commit to abide by the terms of the agreement. 
Please note that before any such dispute is declared, branches will be asked to meet after the 8 February and before 5 March to confirm whether they wish to pursue such a dispute alongside other branches and to be balloted for industrial action. 
The essential task at this stage is to ensure that members are fully aware and engaged in this process. FE News has been sent to all members today and   it would be helpful if branches could bring this to member’s attention locally.  Further campaigning materials will be sent for distribution before the end of this month.
A copy of the latest FE News can be found at: http://www.ucu.org.uk/fenews
A copy of the agreement can be found at:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/docs/1/6/fe_workhoursagreement_nov09.doc
For further advice on the agreement:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/5/q/fe_workloadtoolkit_oct12.pdf
http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/docs/5/m/fe_workloadtoolkit_oct12.doc

Letter sent to FE Principals in England that not responded to October letter.
Dear (principal)
I wrote to you on 19 October 2012, on behalf of UCU, seeking an undertaking that your college would adopt the National Joint Forum Agreement – “Guidance for Regulating Working Hours in FE Colleges”.  Unfortunately to date we have yet to receive your reply.
The main purpose of the agreement is to assist colleges meet their legal obligations and achieve standards of good practice in working hours.  The guidance provides a framework for institutions to assess local working hours practice and identify areas for improvement.  Practical guidance is also provided on ways to reduce long working hours. 
UCU believes that the adoption and use of this agreement can be a useful step towards addressing the pressing issue of workloads in FE. We anticipated that colleges would readily adopt its recommendations locally; but, as I indicated in my previous letter, we do intend to pursue this issue vigorously. 
In circumstances where colleges refuse to adopt or implement the national agreement recommendations, UCU may announce a local trade dispute leading to a ballot for industrial action.
In particular we are seeking confirmation that colleges will comply with clause 4.1 of the agreement:
Colleges are required to conduct risk assessments for health and safety hazards in the workplace.  This includes assessing whether working hours are causing or could cause harm to people at work.  Colleges should work with recognised trade union representatives to identify whether long working hours practices exist and whether appropriate precautions have been made or whether more should be done to prevent any harm such practices may cause.
I would be grateful if you would confirm by 8 February whether you intend to implement the terms of the agreement.  In the event that we do not receive a reply we will assume that your response is negative. 
Yours faithfully,

Barry Lovejoy
National Head of Further Education

Pay Claim
The FE News contains an update on the pay claim for this year. The Joint trade unions are seeking a 5% increase for 2013/14 and will submit the claim at the end of January. Discussions are taking place with other unions on details of the campaign and further materials for members will be sent to branches before the end of the month.
Barry Lovejoy 
National Head of FE