Newcastle College UCU

I thought that you might like to see how Newcastle College treats its staff and students. Of course, because of the demands of confidentiality we cannot delve into the Branch Committee’s case file but here are a couple of incidents which are already in the public domain.

The Grinch That Stole Christmas

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2008/09/21/stop-the-war-student-banned-from-college-79310-21863997/

A quote from a fellow student:

“Artem is actually in my class at College, i’ve known him for over a year now and the lad hasn’t got a bad bone in his body, he’s what tutors would describe as an ‘outstanding student’. He’s also not afraid to stand up for what he believes in which is quite honourable considering he’s only been in this country for the last couple of years for study purposes.”

Between this email & the one you us sent today on the case against cuts, the whole thing is as ridiculous as a pantomime with Dame Jackie in the lead role!

It’s obscene, especially when I have an [deleted] year old mother who could lose the house she has lived in for the last 30 years.

If I lose my job, which is paying the mortgage, that’s my reality. We could both end up homeless!

I would like to thank all the staff who come visit me or who email me. Some have problems, some tell me things about the college and some just come with a kind word or a joke.

So I just thought that I would share this with you as it is definitely in the “cheer me up” category. Life is short and I am sure that the college will be here long after we are all gone.

Or, perhaps you don’t think it so funny.

Many people have asked me in the past few days: “How can I help?”

Groups of staff set up within the college will be contacting you if you have offered help but why don’t you get in touch with them? The Newcastle College union reps are listed on this blog here: http://newcastlecollege.web.ucu.org.uk/branch-reps

If you are in an already existing group, though, I thought it would be useful if I published here, in a form from which you may easily “cut and paste”, the information which I have been handing out to you on paper.

First and foremost, support the vote for STRIKE action. You will be receiving your ballot paper soon.

As importantly, add your name to the online petition and encourage everyone you know to do so too. It is here on our blog
http://newcastlecollege.web.ucu.org.uk/sign-the-petition

Go to the UCU Branch Facebook Page and click on “Like” http://tinyurl.com/6dvrhes

Join the Facebook Page “Save Our Staff” set up by Newcastle College students

http://tinyurl.com/saveos

Log on and visit the Branch website regularly newcastlecollege.web.ucu.org.uk This will help to keep you up to date with developments.

Email your support to the Branch Secretary

david.otoole@ncl-coll.ac.uk

Follow us on twitter

@nclcollUCU

(Mike Gallagher is the Human Resources Manager at Newcastle College, Rye Hill Campus)

Dear Mike

I am writing following our meeting on Tuesday. You will recall that in the meeting I indicated that UCU wished to see the s188 letter withdrawn pending both final decisions re college budgets and jointly work to find alternatives to redundancy. The Principal indicated that this was not an approach she could agree to.

Because of this failure to withdraw the threat of compulsory redundancy I need to inform you that there is now a trade dispute between UCU and the college.

I shall inform you how the union intends to prosecute the dispute in accordance with relevant employment law.

Yours

Iain Owens
UCU Regional Official

J32 The Avenues
Eleventh Avenue North
Team Valley Trading Estate
GATESHEAD
NE11 0NJ

On the launch of the SCETT Publication: In Defence of Teacher Education (March 2011), Professor Dennis Hayes, Hon. Secretary, the Standing Committee for the Education and Training of Teachers (SCETT) said:

“Today SCETT publishes this important short work, In Defence of Teacher Education, which provides a unique defence of education as a field of study essential for future teachers. It is addressed to the Coalition government but should be read by all teachers, teacher trainers, academics and all those with an interest in ensuring that our children are taught by teachers who understand what they are doing and who believe that teaching is a profession and not merely a ‘craft’ “.

The 15 contributors include leaders from all the major teaching trade unions, national educational organisations and distinguished academics. If the Coalition is serious about developing their thinking about teacher education they must engage with the arguments that SCETT’s contributors present and we are happy to discuss them with Mr Gove, Mr Gibb, Mr Hayes and their advisors.”

For further information and comment contact:

Dennis Hayes -  Tel: 07791 200 341 – Email: d.hayes@derby.ac.uk

In Defence of Teacher Education – SCETT March 2011

Newcastle College managers will meet with staff in the various “schools” on Monday to brief them on the latest round of redundancies. It is unsure what they will be saying but presumably they will explain why they need to make 171 staff redundant (including 124 teaching staff) whilst continuing with two “new builds”.

The college has ambitious plans to build a new Sixth Form College which it says it will use as a “decant building”. This means that it will be used to house students whilst other buildings on site are re-furbished.

The college also has plans for a new building at Wallsend which will address the need for sustainable technology. This building will create 10 new teaching jobs and accommodate 150 students.

New Logo

A group of concerned students is campaigning on behalf of Newcastle College staff. They have set up a group on Facebook called “Save Our Staff”. You can see it at www.tinyurl.com/saveos

This is good news for College staff as local students have been very vocal recently (despite snow and ice) in opposing the education cuts.

See Youtube footage here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtRvZ6wTkfk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3jKz9Rzuo0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcCTW6tsJb0

A Student Information Group has been set up within the college and several staff have come forward to help with this. This group will liase with students and allow more information about their campaign to be published here.

You may be interested to see the logo which has recently been created by them presumably for use on the web. It probably sits in great contrast to the, no doubt expensive, group rebranding and website upgrades undertaken by the College very recently,  however, we think it is rather good and worth reproducing here.

The TUC is organising a national march and rally on 26 March 2011 in response to the government’s programme of fast and deep public spending cuts.

The cuts will mean swingeing attacks in all areas but without these cuts there would be no rationale for the redundancies at Newcastle College. In addition the cuts mean fee rises for HE, funding cuts for FE, cuts in ESOL and abolition of EMA. There will be massive attacks on all public services. You, and everyone you know, will be directly affected by these cuts whether you are in a job or out of work, in education or hoping you or your children will go, sick or well.

Attend the march in London on March 26. Bring a friend.

We will be maintaining details here for the UCU Northern Region and will, as far as is possible, post up to date details of seat availability. If you are on a coach or know of transport contact david.otoole (at) blueyonder.co.uk.

Dear UCU colleague,

Please see http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5186 for full info on the event but this section is to let you know that there is a UCU coach booked to go from Newcastle, via Teesside University to travel to the rally in London and back the same day.

The coach will leave Newcastle Central Station at 3am, travel to Teesside University and leave there at 3.45am. The bus will return the same day, leaving London at 5pm. Please note the times are not fixed, but as accurate as we know at the moment.

In order to book a place you will need to provide a cheque for £20 (payable to ‘University and College Union’) either to me at the address below or your local Branch secretary, who will pass your details to me. This is so we ensure people are committed to taking their place on the coach, as our last coach to the Manchester event had many last minute cancellations meaning people missed out. Your place will not be guaranteed until we receive your cheque and I send a confirmation email as receipt.

At the moment this coach is only open to UCU  members, and their partners/family but if places are not filled by the date above we will consider opening seats to other Union colleagues etc.

You will appreciate time is short so if you could confirm your attendance by Wednesday 16th March we would be grateful. Please distribute to all your members.

Kind regards,

Sarah Parry, UCU Branch Development Organiser
J32 The Avenues, Eleventh Avenue North
Team Valley Trading Estate,
Gateshead NE11 0NJ
0191 4877220

——————————-

Coach organised by Gateshead Public Services Alliance and Coalition of Resistance – Tyne & Wear and Unite the union
Departs from: Newcastle Central Station, Newcastle NE1 5DL, Departs at: 6:00am

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=193668033990690

For more information or to reserve a seat on the coach email:
toe.knee.dowling (at) gmail.com or cornortheast (at) gmail.com
Seats are £25 waged / £10 unwaged.

Sunderland Against the Cuts
Running a coach, which at the moment has two free seats. £10 deposit required
If you’d like to get involved with SATC you can send an email to:
sunderlandleftunity (at) gmail (dot) com
or send a text to Gary on
Oh, seven, eight, eight, 1 656064

University of Cumbria Students’ Union

Will organise a coach if there is sufficient demand from students willing to contribute, or as and when funding becomes available.

Contact details are the same as before Contact Martin Dodd martin.dodd@cumbria.ac.uk 01228 616253
or Danny Prescott daniel.prescott@cumbria.ac.uk 01524 526578
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk

TUC Website Transport Locator

http://falseeconomy.org.uk/travel/north-east/NE/t1

Click on the map to see the options.

The following are all PCS trains – there are lots of coaches organised from all UK areas but the transport relevant to the Northern Region appears to be all trains. We haven’t got prices yet but will update when we have. Anyone arranging transport with them who does find out prices email david.otoole (at) ncl-coll.ac.uk.

PCS – website page for all transport

Doncaster

7.30am Doncaster to Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 5.30pm.
8.45am Doncaster to Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 7.30pm. Tickets and info from 26marchYorks&Humb@pcs.org.uk – There is currently a waiting list for the PCS tickets.

Hartlepool

7.45am Hartlepool to London Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 1907. Tickets and info from 26marchnorthern@pcs.org.uk

Hull

6.50am Hull to London Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 1840, arrives 2127. Tickets and info from 26marchYorks&Humb@pcs.org.uk – There is currently a waiting list for the PCS tickets.

Leeds

7.20am Leeds to Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 6.35pm, arrives 8.49pm.
8.05am Leeds to Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 6.30pm, arrives 8.37pm.
8.15am Leeds to Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 7.30pm, arrives 9.50pm. Tickets and info from 26marchYorks&Humb@pcs.org.uk – There is currently a waiting list for the PCS tickets.

Newcastle-on-Tyne

6.35am Newcastle to London Kings Cross, calling at Durham at 0647 and Darlington at 0704. Return train leaves at 1600. Tickets and info from 26marchnorthern@pcs.org.uk
7.30am Newcastle to London Kings Cross, calling at Durham at 0742 and Darlington at 0800. Return trains leave at 17.40 or 1800. Tickets and info from 26marchnorthern@pcs.org.uk

York

8.47am York to London Kings Cross. Return train leaves at 1650, arrives 1845. Tickets and info from 26marchYorks&Humb@pcs.org.uk – There is currently a waiting list for the PCS tickets.

From: Anne Hinde
Sent: Fri 2/11/2011 2:05 PM
To: All_Staff
Subject: New Sixth Form College

Message sent on behalf of Jackie Fisher:

Dear Colleagues

Governors decided yesterday evening to forward our request to build a new Sixth Form College, next to Rye Hill House, to the Skills Funding Agency and seek their permission for us to proceed.

If we gain their permission to build we should begin work on the site in April or May 2011 and the building should be available to us in January 2013.

Kind regards

Anne Hinde
PA to Dame Jackie Fisher
Chief Executive
Newcastle College Group

Tel: 0191 200 4011
email: anne.hinde@ncgrp.co.uk