Minutes of AUCU General Meeting

Minutes of AUCU General Meeting

Wednesday 10th August, 2016

1.00pm – 2.00pm

Taylor C11/Foresterhill by Skype

Chair: Andrew Mackillop (with Derek Dawson) and Mary Senior in attendance by Skype

In attendance: As per attendance sheets

Minutes: Andrew MacGregor

1.  Current job cuts in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition

The Chair provided a general update from the last JCCRA meeting and the recent UCU Open Meeting on the 1st August. The Chair signalled to the meeting that it was becoming apparent that SMT have breached elements of the January joint agreement and that this was to be kept in mind as the meeting progresses. The Chair also signalled to members that the developments at Foresterhill could be a rehearsal for similar moves in other parts of the University. There was grave concern for example about the lack of consultation from the University about the terms of the scheme (such as the provision of 9 months compared to 12 as was offered in the last version of the scheme).

There were numerous requests for information from UCU put to SMT and they have now replied with some information (some of which is confidential). The information provided from SMT has at least provided some figures regards target savings and Derek Dawson now Chaired the meeting providing more details about the questions put to SMT and the answers given (see attached).

Questions from the floor which will be taken back to SMT for a reply:

Where does the targeted saving amount come from and how was it calculated?

What does the centre (i.e. University) take from each School, both currently and historically?

What criteria was used to identify certain areas for disinvestment?

Is the University currently running a surplus or a deficit and can the details be provided?

Chair now summed up this section of the meeting. Chair stated that the membership must decide what the ‘red lines’ are and the circumstances that would result in UCU withdrawing from the January joint agreement and initiating a dispute. UCU are committed to constructive discussions but SMT would now require to provide proper answers to the questions put by UCU.

The GM agreed to wait until the next GM later this month and if the answers provided by SMT were not considered adequate then a special GM would be called to decide on whether to withdraw support from the joint agreement and initiate a dispute.

2.  Terms and Conditions Progress Report

Martin Mills gave a brief presentation on the most recent developments so far. He is happy that progress is being made but noted that discussions are still ongoing. There is no date for when the final agreement will be agreed and put before UCU Committee and the membership at a GM.

3.  AOCB

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and requested that if there were any further comments from colleagues that these should be emailed to him and/or the main UCU Aberdeen e-mail. The Chair also signalled that there were likely to be a number of GMs in the next few months and to encourage all members to attend.

Questions and answers: JCCRA 10/08/16

No / Question / Response
1 / Are there plans for similar VS/ER schemes to be rolled out in other schools/areas? / The management team are still reviewing the situation
(all following questions, 2-11, were in relation to SMMSN):
2 / How was the £1.5m savings figure arrived at? / There is a target deficit of £2.3m and the University is trying to minimise impact on the school and strike a balance in terms of reasonable reduction and objective growth. The £1.5m financial target was set to the head of school by the Senior Management team through the budget process. Also see June 2016 Court papers.
3 / Why is the VS/ER scheme on reduced terms from previous schemes (ie. 9 months vs 12 months) / Affordability
4 / Given the VS/ER scheme makes reference to the potential for redundancy, should this not have been brought to JCCRA prior to launch? / No - because the scheme is voluntary and it was discussed in depth at ACAS
5 / Can we have an update on recruitment freeze? / The ["JCCRA_15_16_18 INFORMATION OF CURRENT RECRUITMENT ACTIVITY.docx"] paper provides this and can be shared with all members
6 / Can we receive assurance that the 6 to 8 week estimate for turnaround for a pension quote from USS will not be to the detriment of those who have expressed interest in the VS/ER scheme progressing with an informed formal application / Yes - but members need to apply but clearly state the caveat that the application is subject to receiving information from USS.
7 / Would it be possible to share a mapping between the school plan and VS/ER areas
Page 11 of the school plan, the list of "designated areas of disinvestment":
• Elements of cell development and cancer biology
• Elements of chronic disease
• Elements of preclinical imaging
• Elements of primary care
• Elements of rural health
• Elements of cardio-vascular
• Elements of translational neuroscience
• Elements of Immunology research
• Elements of Musculoskeletal research
• Global maternal mortality
The "Voluntary Severance and Early Retirement scheme, with a focus on a small number of areas":
• Preclinical Imaging, Platelet Biology, Orthopaedics and Shape Modelling
• Electrical Motility and Cell Migration Neuroscience
• Primary Care
• Centre for Rural Health
• Immunology in Haematology/Malignancy
• Eph Receptor and Nel Glycoprotein Biology
• Modelling and Pattern Formation in Animal Development
• Sex Determination Differentiation and Reproduction / The ["JCCRA_15_16_15 MAPPING OF FOCUSSED AREAS OF DISINVESTMENT.docx"] paper provides this and can be shared with all members
8 / Who selected the areas and when were they agreed? / The Head of School along with executive in consultation with head of college and senior vice principal. Agreement was at SMT meeting 13/07
9 / Can we please be provided with the numbers of staff in the areas listed in the areas above
Where various units have been pooled together can separate numbers be provided if available/applicable for example, four separate figures for "Preclinical Imaging, Platelet Biology, Orthopaedics and Shape Modelling" rather than just one?
Can numbers and/or supporting information be provided with regard to equality and diversity? / The Equality Impact Assessment has been completed but this document is strictly confidential and cannot be shared further
The numbers have been completed but this document is strictly confidential and cannot be shared further
The University accepted that there were three areas which only had 1 person in each (as per the paper). It advised that these individuals were spoken to ahead of the email.
UCU expressed concern with regard to the equality impact assessment and questioned how the proportions of those in targeted areas as a whole - and individually - compared to other academic staff.
The University assured it had a robust set of criteria for selecting the areas and that any non-representative figures were purely co-incidental
10 / Have conversations been held (or will be held) with individuals to encourage take up of the VS/ER scheme. If so can we have a
- list of such areas
- the number of staff approached vs the total number of staff in each area
- the criteria used for the approach
- assurance around equality and diversity / Yes, all individuals in the targeted areas were invited to a meeting with a director
If any line management type conversations have taken place encouraging individuals out with the targeted areas to take up the VS/ER scheme this is not endorsed by the University and details should be provided to HR.
11 / What are the support mechanisms for staff in the areas listed in the context of Health, Safety & Well-being and is this seen as sufficient? / Outplacement support have been asked to provide additional sessions for individuals. Support is available via the HR team who can offer guidance and assistance. Directors of the institute are working hard with HR to provide appropriate support. CSP Scotland have been approached to undertake additional support.

JCCRA

School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition

Mapping of Focused Areas of Disinvestment

The School plan for the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition was issued to staff for consultation on 8 September 2015. The consultation took place over a four week period. The plan included detail on the future direction of the School identifying areas of excellence where future investment would be made and also those areas for disinvestment.

The areas of disinvestment identified within the plan are:

·  Elements of cell development and cancer biology

·  Elements of chronic disease

·  Elements of preclinical imaging

·  Elements of primary care

·  Elements of rural health

·  Elements of cardio-vascular

·  Elements of translational neuroscience

·  Elements of Immunology research

·  Elements of Musculoskeletal research

·  Global maternal mortality

On Monday 18 July 2016 the School announced the launch of a six week voluntary severance scheme. The announcement confirmed that, whilst applications would be welcomed from staff across the School, the School is particularly interested in receiving applications from staff within focussed areas for disinvestment.

Those areas are:

·  Preclinical Imaging

·  Platelet Biology

·  Orthopaedics and Shape Modelling

·  Electrical Motility and Cell Migration Neuroscience

·  Primary Care

·  Centre for Rural Health

·  Immunology in Haematology/Malignancy

·  Eph Receptor and Nel Glycoprotein Biology

·  Modelling and Pattern Formation in Animal Development

These focussed areas of disinvestment map onto the previously identified areas within the School plan as follows:

·  Preclinical Imaging Element of preclinical imaging

·  Platelet Biology Elements of cardio-vascular

·  Orthopaedics and Shape Modelling Elements of musculoskeletal research

·  Electrical Motility and Cell Migration Neuro Elements of translational neurosciences

·  Primary Care Elements of primary care

·  Centre for Rural Health Elements of rural health

·  Immunology in Haematology/Malignancy Elements of immunology research

·  Eph Receptor and Nel Glycoprotein Biology Elements of cell development and cancer

biology

·  Modelling and Pattern Formation in Elements of cell development and cancer Animal Development biology

·  Sex Determination Differentiation Elements of cell development and cancer

and Reproduction biology

JCCRA

RECRUITMENT ACTIVITY

REPORT ON ACTIVITY FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST

Following the ACAS agreement with UCU, recruitment activity has been kept to a minimum and recruitment to position that have been funded through university core funds have been on the basis of exceptional cases.

The table below provides a note of all recruitment activity within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition since January up to 5 August 2016. 47 number of these positions are still under recruitment. Out of the 108 positions noted nine have been funded from core funds, one has been partially funded from core and the other 98 positions have been externally funded.

Title / Refno / Hiring manager / Funding Source
Anatomy Technician/ Prosector / MED007A / Lumsden, Lynne / Core
Assisted Reproduction Unit Secretary / ARU003S / McTavish, Alison / External
Assistive Reproduction Unit Co-ordinator / ARU001S / McTavish, Alison / External
Chair in Human Disease in Relation to Dentistry / DEN005A / McGregor, Robert / External
Chair in Restorative Dentistry / DEN004A / McGregor, Robert / External
Chair/Reader in Musculoskeletal Molecular Medicine / IMS135A / De Bari, Cosimo / Core
Clerical Assistant / IHS004S / Wallace, Sheila / External
Clinical Lecturer (Scholarship) in Forensic Pathology / MED002A / Lyall, Matthew / External
Clinical Lecturer (Scholarship)/Senior Clinical Lecturer (Scholarship) 60% FTE / DEN006A / Ibbetson, Richard / External
Clinical Research Fellow / IMS003R / Dawson, Dana / External
Clinical Research Fellow / IMS031A / Delibegovic, Mirela / External
Clinical Research Fellow / YMD086R / Dawson, Dana / External
Clinical Research Fellow / IMS006R / Warris, Adilia / External
Clinical Research Fellow in Reproductive Medicine / ARU004R / Bhattacharya, Siladitya / External
Clinical Skills Centre Course Coordinator / YME079S / Morse, Jeremy / External
Clinical Skills Centre Secretary / YME077S / Kay, Christine / External
Clinical Skills Centre Technician / MED001T / Lumsden, Lynne / External
Dental Co-ordinator / YDS056S / McGregor, Robert / External
Dental School Co-ordinator / DEN001S / McGregor, Robert / External
Director of Health Services Research Unit / HSR002A / Malcolm, Marion / External
GP Teaching Administrator / MED008A / Sperling, Ulrike / External
Lecturer (Scholarship) in Sport Science/Human Physiology - REDEPLOYMENT ONLY / MED009A / Patey, Rona / Core
Lecturer in Medical Education / YME078A / Patey, Rona / Core
Lecturer in Neurobiology of Obesity / ROW010A / Heisler, Lora / External
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Stromal Immunology / IMS134A / De Bari, Cosimo / Core
Manager for MRC Centre for Medical Mycology / IMS001A / Brown, Gordon / External/Core
MRC Discovery Research Fellow / ROW009R / Heisler, Lora / External
MRC Discovery Research Fellow / ROW008R / Heisler, Lora / External
Non-Clinical Lecturer in Dental Public Health / DEN003A / McGregor, Robert / External
Non-Clinical Senior Lecturer in Oral Sciences / DEN002A / McGregor, Robert / External
Nutrition Assistant / ROW003S / Stephen, Sylvia / External
Part-Time ACT Finance Assistant / MED003S / Sperling, Ulrike / External
Part-time Research Fellow (50% of full-time) REDEPLOYMENT ONLY / IHS006R / Semple, Sean / External
Part-time Research Fellow (60% of full-time) REDEPLOYMENT ONLY / IHS007R / Wilson, Philip / External
Part-Time Study Co-ordinator REDEPLOYMENT ONLY / EPI006A / Jones, Gareth / External
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Rumen Microbiologist / ROW014R / Walker, Alan / External
Programme Grant Administrator / YRW119R / Morgan, Peter / External
Programmer/Analyst Programmer / YHS214A / Forrest, Mark / External
Project Administrator / IMS021R / Gow, Neil / External
Project Assistant / EPI002S / Jones, Gareth / External
Research Assistant / IMS010R / Murray, Alison / External
Research Assistant / YPS281R / Timmermans, Bert / External
Research Assistant / YMD082R / Cameron, Isobel / External
Research Assistant / HER003R / van der Pol, Marjon / External
Research Assistant / HSR004R / De Bruin, Marijn / External
Research Assistant (Early Stage Researcher) / IMS020R / Zanda, Matteo / External