Category: Latest HR Information

UCU Industrial Action

The University and College Union have issued the College with a notice of Industrial Action.  This is a national union campaign.  The notice indicates this action relates to the ‘proposed detrimental changes to USS and retaining comparable pension benefits’.   The changes to USS are no longer proposed changes and have been implemented with effect from  1 October 2011.  See Pensions and Industrial Action for the full background.

The action will commence from 10 October 2011 and will be in the form of ‘action short of a strike’.  UCU have therefore advised their members to abide by the terms of their contracts (including their obligation to perform their duties in an efficient manner) but to do no more than that; and in particular to:

(a)    Work no more than their contracted hours where those hours are expressly stated and in any event not to exceed the maximum hours stipulated by the Working Time Regulations (unless there has been an individual opt-out);

(b)   Perform no additional voluntary duties, such as out of hours cover, or covering for colleagues (unless such cover is contractually required);

(c)    Set and mark no work beyond that work which they are contractually obliged to set and/or mark;

(d)   Attend no meetings where such attendance is voluntary on the part of the member.

The hours of work for all those represented by UCU are ‘as required for the reasonable performance of the role’.  There is also a contractual expectation of flexibility within the remit of the role and grade.    The College does not accept partial performance of a role.  Therefore, where a member of staff declines to participate in an activity that his / her line manager considers to be part of the normal requirements for the role, pay will be withheld in full.  Further information will be provided to any member of staff who wishes to take industrial action.

For further information contact the Director of HR, Louise Lindsay at: directorofhr@imperial.ac.uk

Agency Workers’ Regulations

With  the introduction of the Agency Workers’ Regulations, which come into force on 1 October 2011, HR have produced an Engaging Agency Workers – Guidance for Managers document to ensure that the responsibilities and implications for College are fully understood.  The new legislation provides agency workers with the same basic employment rights  and working conditions as if they had been recruited directly by College, if and when they complete a qualifying period of 12 weeks.  It also gives them access to College facilities and internal job vacancies from day 1.

Retirement Pension Procedure and Guidelines

The HR Division have revised the College’s Retirement Procedure to reflect the Government’s removal of the Default Retirement Age (DRA) with effect from 1 October 2011, following a six month transitional period, and have produced a Retirement Pension Procedure and Guidelines.

The removal of the DRA means that the College will no longer set a date when members of staff retire.  Members of staff will be able to choose when they enter retirement on a full or part time basis.  Where a member of staff is considering retirement they should discuss their intentions with their line manager in good time.

The Job Swap Scheme

The Job Swap scheme has been developed as a direct result of feedback from Managers from across the College, and aims to provide staff with an opportunity to widen their experience by giving them exposure to other roles within the College at the same grade.

For more information and details of how to apply for a job swap, please visit the Organisational and Staff Development’s  Job Swap Scheme webpage.

National Pay Negotiations 2011/12

Following the most recent New Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES) meeting on 11 July, the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) has made a full and final offer of £150 on all points on the JNCHES pay spine which is under consideration by the Higher Education unions.

Until a resolution is reached the current pay rates will remain in force.  Any agreed increases would be backdated to 1 August 2011.

Local Pay Award 2011/12

Local Pay Bargaining takes place on an annual basis at Imperial, involving negotiations between the College and the Joint Trades Unions (JTUs).

Following the last local pay bargaining meeting on 6 July, the JTUs have confirmed their formal acceptance of the College’s local pay offer of 2% or £500 whichever is the greater effective from 1 August 2011.

The College’s pay scales and schedules of allowances have been updated to incorporate this increase. This applies to all staff on terms and conditions subject to local pay bargaining. Payment at the appropriate new rates will be made in August 2011 salaries.

For copies of the revised scales and allowances, please view the HR Salaries web page.

 To read further information from this year’s local pay bargaining negotiations, including the JTUs pay claim and the College’s responses and final pay offer, please view the HR Local Pay Award 2011/12 web page.

For staff who elected to remain on terms and conditions subject to national pay bargaining, please view details of the 2011-12 national pay negotiations.

Carers’ Information webpage

A Carers’ Information area has been developed on the HR website,  to offer practical help to staff who have caring responsibilities outside of the workplace, by informing them of the College resources and key policies particularly relevant to carers, along with external organisations offering information and services. 

Staff are invited to view the Carers’ Information area and to provide comments and suggestions in relation to what else the Carers’ Information area might offer by way of advice and support by completing the short questionnaire available on the webpage.