Dear all

Well! What a year it has been – FE mergers, HE USS dispute, the list goes on and on. So, once again very many thanks to all of you for working so hard to protect our members both individually and collectively. It has been a hard year and I have a feeling that next year isn’t going to be any better so everyone at the Regional Office is hoping that you have a proper break over the holidays and recharge ready for the New Year.

The office shuts after Thursday 21 December and will re-open on Wednesday 3 January. I will not be back at work until 8 January so once the office reopens then please contact the regional office in your usual manner.

Just to remind you that we have various regional training events taking place next term:

23 January – supporting members with hidden disabilities – a training event in Cambridge for caseworkers
5 February – the launch of our new regular lunchtime Skype briefings. A one hour session on Health and Safety matters that is aimed at branch negotiators (not health and safety reps specifically) giving you a general introduction to H&S and looking at how it can be used in general negotiations. This will be followed up with another session on how we can use H&S to support our members in reorganisations and redundancy consultations.
19-21 February – an introduction to the work of Union Learning Reps and how they can support members in difficult situations as well as support the organising work of the branch.
28 February – UCU Day of Action Against Workplace Racism

Plus, it may seem ages away but this is a heads up for the next National Recruitment Week starting on May 14. If you get your plans in place now then it is going to be so much easier when you get there.

So, that’s it from the Regional Office for the this year. I really hope you all have a fantastic Christmas break and a brilliant New Year. See you in 2018!

All the best

Lydia