UCU at Nottingham Trent University

The threat of greylisting at Nottingham Trent University has been lifted with immediate effect after UCU successfully defended independent trade unionism at the university.

Negotiation heads off greylisting

Nottingham Trent University was to be officially greylisted by the national union on 1 December 2008. This followed an announcement by the university on October 2008 that it was formally terminating recognition of UCU in a direct attack on independent trade unionism on the campus.

The branch committee wishes to extend its thanks to everyone who signed the petition, spread the word among academic colleagues and offered to support greylisting had it been implemented.

The university had been attempting to rewrite the recognition agreement, proposing a set of radically inferior arrangements that would see the campus unions marginalised in favour of a 'consultation and information forum' that would include non-union representation, while facility time for reps would be cut by a staggering 80%.

Following protracted negotiations over a series of days and late into the nights leading up to this date, we are now pleased to report that UCU has reached a position which appears acceptable to the local branch committee. An agreement has been ratified by the branch committee subject to some points requiring clarification, including a resolution of work-load issues for representatives for the current year and addressing the need to ensure that time is now provided for implementation of the national framework agreement.

• Read the full report and background to the dispute here.

The branch are extremely grateful for all the support throughout this dispute.

Member solidarity

Our online petition gathered well OVER 10,000 signatories.