UCU Northern Ireland

UCU represents members in further and higher education across Northern Ireland. We also represent staff in a number of training organizations.

Post-school education and training in the region are issues devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and its executive. Funding is provided via the Department of Employment and Learning which receives an allocation from the executive out of the UK Treasury grant.
 
UCU in Northern Ireland engages with the Department of Employment and Learning at all levels up to and including the minister. We seek to influence policy in relation to post school education through lobbying politicians and making submissions directly to government.

We maintain strong links with the assembly's Employment and Learning Committee.

UCU Northern Ireland supports the DefendEMA campaign

On this page:

• Higher education
• Further education
• Political work

UCU Northern Ireland contacts:

• Northern Ireland regional office
• Northern Ireland committee

LATEST

Re-organisation of Government Departments

UCU in Northern Ireland believes that in any future re-organisation of the government departments post-school further and higher education institutions should be under the departmental control of the Department of Education.

We are encouraging all members to write to their MLA in support of UCU's position regarding the proposed demise of the Department of Employment and Learning.

 Some key points to make:

• it would not serve the educational interests of our society to best effect nor would it enhance the promotion of economic development
• the mission of DETI would be seriously compromised should it assume responsibility for the funding, regulation and administration of Northern Ireland's large and diverse educational institutions
• lack of evidence to support the view that attaching all of that to DETI would enhance the ability of that department to increase private inward investment
• UCU is concerned that relocation of the post school sectors to DETI will diminish the status of our colleges and universities as providers of mainstream education to adults young and old and will, in time, divert those institutions from their central role in delivering education to all of our citizens.

•  A draft letter for your MLA is available here (.txt) [4kb]

30 November pension strike

30 November pickets at Southern Regional College's Newry campusUCU members in Northern Ireland joined the UK-wide multi-union strike action on 30 November 2011 against the changes to public sector pension schemes, including USS and NITPS.

Find out more at: 30 November - Defend public sector pensions

Higher Education

Northern Ireland has five dedicated HE institutions. These are:

• The Queen's University of Belfast: contact QUB UCU
• University of Ulster: contact Ulster UCU
• St Mary's University College: contact: SMUC
• Stranmillis University College: contact Stranmillis UCU 
• Open University: contact: Alan Carr 

All HE institutions are part of UCEA and are part of UK negotiating machinery for the determination of pay. Each institution has its own locally negotiated conditions of service.

Most academic and related staff at Queens, UU and OU are members of the University Superannuation Scheme for pension purposes. Lecturers at St.Mary's and Stranmillis for the most part are members of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Some 15% of higher education in Northern Ireland is also delivered through the six further education colleges.

Key information for HE members in Northern Ireland:

• HE pay and salaries
• HE conditions of employment

Further Education

Northern Ireland has six further education colleges which are area based. These are:

• Belfast Metropolitan College: contact BMC UCU 
• Southern Regional College: contact SRC UCU 
• South Eastern Regional College: contact SERC UCU 
• South West College: contact SWC UCU 
• Northern Regional College: contact NRC UCU 
• North West Regional College: contact NWRC UCU

All colleges are part of the Colleges' Employers Forum and Colleges NI. The pay and conditions of service for lecturing staff are determined centrally at the Lecturers Negotiating Committee. A separate bargaining forum determines the pay and conditions of service of directors and deputies.

• Northern Ireland FE pay scales
• FE agreements in Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland FE publication and reports

Political work

Government Consultation

Government consults widely in Northern Ireland on proposed policy initiatives and legislation. UCU makes comment in respect of education policy. Recent comments include:

• A Strategy for those not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
• Tuition Fees
• The proposed discontinuance of Stranmillis University College and its proposed merger with the Queen's University of Belfast
• Higher Education Widening Participation Strategy consultation
• Higher Education Strategy Consultation
• Draft Budget 2011-2015

See UCU politics monthly for the latest news.

Political contacts

The Minister for Employment and Learning is appointed under the Assembly's rules and is a member of the Northern Ireland Executive. The current minister is an Assembly Member for the Alliance Party, Dr Stephen Farry.

The Department is scrutinized by the Assembly's Employment and Learning Committee. The current membership of the committee is :

• Chair: Basil McCrea (UUP)  basil.mccrea@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
• Deputy Chair: Thomas Buchanan (DUP) thomas.buchanan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
• Committee members:
  Jim Allister (TUV) jim.allister@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
  Sammy Douglas (DUP) sammy.douglas@MLA.niassembly.gov.uk
  Michelle Gildernew (SF) michelle.gildernew@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
  Chris Lyttle (Alliance) chris.lyttle@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
  Barry McElduff (SF) barry.mcelduff@niassembly.gov.uk
  David McIlveen david.mcilveen@niassembly.gov.uk
  Sandra Overend (UUP) Sandra.overend@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
  Pat Ramsay (SDLP) pat.ramsay@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
  Alastair Ross (DUP) alastair.ross@mla.niassembly.gov.uk

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