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INKYFLASH: AUT STRIKE MEETING
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INKYTEXT 295a WEDNESDAY 19 MAY 1999
NEXT WEEK'S AUT STRIKE
Proposed nurse-led health unit
Conference job vacancies at Lancaster
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NEXT WEEK'S STRIKE ACTION
A General Meeting of the LAUT took place at 1.00 pm today, Wednesday
19th May, in the Cavendish Colloquium Room. About 70 members were
thought to be present. AUT HQ representative Brian Everett was in
attendance to discuss the latest on the pay claim and action to be
taken. Members are referred to
http://www.aut.org.uk/campaigns/pay/action.htm where there is
information on the current pay dispute.
Members were informed that the VC had given assurances (to whom?) that
all exams scheduled for Tuesday will go ahead. Two (professorial)
members spoke against the proposed action. Others spoke of the need to
remind management of the plight of absurdly underpaid contract staff
and emphasized the need to ensure longer term improvements in pay
levels even before the Bett committee recommendations (if they arrive)
are implemented.
LAUT President, Prof Kirby, made a personal statement stressing his
concern to ensure that students, always particularly fragile at this
time of year, were not adversely affected by any actions undertaken.
A special meeting of the LAUT executive committee, called by the
president, Prof Kirby, was held in his room at 5.00 yesterday amid much
criticism of the vagueness of the AUT strike proposals both nationally
and locally. About a third of current executive members were present.
Officers, when later asked how many of those present were members of
the academic staff with undergraduate teaching responsibilities,
declined to answer but with some embarrassment. (This category is
currently under-represented on the Lancaster exec.)
At neither level is it clear how far other relevant campus unions
(Unison, MSF, TGWU) have been approached to ask for their support. It
seems porters, techicians and secretaries are NOT being invited to
forego a day's pay in support of the AUT pay claim but rank and file
members of those unions point out that they have not yet been directly
consulted on the issue. The AUT is understood to hope/expect others
will not undertake the duties not being performed by striking AUT
members.
NUS national president Andrew Pakes has written to the AUT expressing
support and adding "I have every faith in you and your union that you
will do your utmost to minimise the impact of this action on students
at exam time." The LUSU position is not known.
It is expected that lawful picketing (maximum of 6 on any one line)
will go ahead on Tuesday. Some 30 members have already indicated their
willingness to picket to the local secretary. The question remains: is
the picketing intended to discourage invigilators and students from
attending examinations... or merely to 'inform' them of the merits of
the pay claim?
There may also be some students happy to claim that syndical scruples
prevented them from taking exams, or indeed bus drivers who decline to
cross the picket. It is not practically possible to rearrange these
within the relevant time-span, and it seems likely that exam boards
will have to treat such cases individually on their merits.
In some political and trades union circles there is scepticism about
the likely effectiveness of the AUT's strategy, designed to force
employers to continue negotiations this year.
THE STUDENT WELFARE COMMITTEE meets today. Major item on the agenda is
the proposed new nurse-led unit to be run from and by University House,
a cost-cutting measure intended to justify a change in our financial
arrangements with the practice which has run the Health Centre for the
past 30 years.
This is the first occasion that most members of the committee, chaired
by Pro-VC Whitaker, have been officially apprised of the move or had a
chance to discuss it yet Admin officials appear to assume the matter
has already been decided by them. This is widely seen as an abuse of
executive action of the type that we learned to be wary of before.
The attractively designed multicolour pamphlets on Student Support
were distributed in thousands last week. They remove any reference to
the 'University Health Centre' stating instead:
"You are free to select any doctor near where you live, however a
local GP Practice runs a surgery at Bailrigg House. Registered students
are eligible for full GP services from the surgery run by male and
female doctors. There is a university nurse on duty night and day in
term time and in an emergency you can be accommodated for short
periods."
A quick trawl of opinion suggests there is little or no support for
the scheme except among its begetters and others anxious to cut the
cost of the health centre, notably the Deputy VC.
JOB VACANCIES: LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
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COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR - COMMERCIAL MANAGER - CONFERENCES (TEMPORARY)
CATERING AND CONFERENCES
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Salary: #36,000 plus 15% PRP.
Following a major review of catering and conference provision the
University is seeking to make the following appointment
The University has a comprehensive range of catering outlets providing
retail catering services and hospitality for 13,000 students and
staff. Significant investment in new catering facilities is also
planned.
The new Commercial Director will be responsible for the overall
leadership of the department as well as strategic planning, sales and
marketing, financial performance and product development.
As well as previous experience in similar roles candidates must be
able to demonstrate a track record of achievement and innovation.
COMMERCIAL MANAGER - CONFERENCES (TEMPORARY)
Salary: #36,000
The University has excellent conference, accommodation and support
facilities in an enviable location. Facilities have been further
enhanced with the recent opening of a new dedicated conference centre.
The University has a well established presence in the conference market
place.
The commercial manager's principal responsibilities will include
further business development, the management of current lettings and
product enhancement. Previous experience of operating and selling in a
conference environment is essential.
While this is a temporary appointment, probably for about six months,
it could lead to a permanent position for the right candidate.
Please forward CVs to the University's retained consultants:
Focus Consultants, 78a Glasgow Road, Blanefield, Glasgow, G63 9H;
Email: FocusHealthcare@compuserve.com for the attention of Carol
Errington.
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ENDS