Claiming from Leicester UCU Fighting Fund

Published: 17th June, 2021

(Updated 17 June 2021)

Background:

Leicester UCU are engaged in an ongoing dispute with the University Executive Board over compulsory redundancies. Through a legal ballot, members have committed to strong action to defend livelihoods and the future of our university, which has to date included 3 days of strike action and a long campaign of action short of a strike.

The Executive Board have made clear that pay deductions for action short of a strike will fall disproportionately heavily on members undertaking the lengthy marking and assessment boycott. In a strong demonstration of branch solidarity, members voted to establish the Leicester UCU Fighting Fund at an EGM on 2 June to help mitigate the financial impact on these members.

The Leicester UCU Fighting Fund has now been established. As members undertaking ASOS, especially the marking and assessment boycott, will face potentially substantial pay deductions from the July payroll, it is important that all members in a position to do so donate to the Leicester UCU Fighting Fund now, and promote the Fund to encourage wider donations. Details of the procedure for accessing the fund are also outlined below.

Donate to the Leicester UCU Fighting Fund

The financial support that members can access for ASOS-related pay deductions will depend entirely on the generosity and solidarity of others in making donations. The branch has no standing funds for this and the National UCU fighting fund can only be accessed for pay deductions relating to full strike action.

Everyone’s financial circumstances will be different; please donate as much as you can. It is especially important for members who will not be affected by substantial pay deductions for ASOS – ie if you are not part of the marking and assessment boycott – be as generous as you can afford to be.

Please donate by transfer to our account at Unity Trust Bank (details below).

NOTE: You may get a warning message that it has not been possible to check the name of the recipient. This is because Unity Trust does not yet participate in the new Confirmation of Payee scheme operated by some banks. The payment can still go ahead, but please check that all details are correct before proceeding.

Name of account (if required): UCU Leicester LA30

Sort Code: 60-83-01

Account: 20444031

Many thanks to the UCU branches and individuals who have already made generous donations. Please spread the word and encourage others to donate.

Procedure for claiming from the Leicester UCU Fighting Fund:

1. The Branch Committee will establish a Panel of at least 3 members (including the Branch Treasurer) to assess claims and oversee payments made from the Fund. The Panel’s decision in all matters will be final.
2. To ensure fair distribution of funds, there will be a standard limit to the amount that members can claim per day of ASOS. This limit will be determined by the Panel following a review of donations and claims received by 10 August.
3. Payment will only be made on supply of valid bank details and a scan/screenshot of the deduction from the July payslip. In exceptional circumstances, the Panel may consider other equivalent evidence of deductions made.
4. Payment will only be made to members who are paying their UCU subscription at the correct rate for their current salary and membership category. Members who have not paid at the correct rate for at least 6 months will have to pay arrears for up to 6 months in order to be eligible for payments from the Fighting Fund.
5. Payment will only be made to members who continue to take ASOS until it is officially called off.
6. In no circumstances will payments made to a member exceed the amount of pay deducted.
7. The claim must include the following information, otherwise it will be rejected:

◦ Name

◦ Membership number

◦ Number of days deducted

8. The claim should be submitted by email to asos-claim-july@uculeicester.org.uk
9. The standard amount will be paid irrespective of personal circumstances. Members who are able to sustain the deduction of pay are encouraged not to claim.
10. Members should claim by Tuesday 10th August and should claim for July deductions only. A further process for August will be announced in due course should the need arise.

Use of donations:

The branch intends to use all donations received to the Leicester UCU Fighting Fund to support members’ pay deductions for ASOS. Any money remaining in the fund after the July round will be considered for a next/future round of payments. Any money remaining after all payment rounds will (at the discretion of the Branch Committee) be used to increase payments already made, kept for future disputes, transferred to support other branches taking action, or transferred to the national UCU Fighting Fund.