In accordance with the first resolution of the amended motion presented at the December EGM (Motion EGM1224_01) and subsequently passed via digital vote, CCCU UCU, via our Regional Office, wrote a Failure to Agree  letter to the Vice Chancellor over “Failure to Rule out Compulsory Redundancies for both the current (2024/25), and next academic year (2025/26)” on 19/12/24. A deadline of 10/01/25 was given for the VC to provide assurances that there would be no compulsory redundancies, but unfortunately he failed to do so in his response to UCU on 06/01/25. CCCU UCU then issued formal declaration of dispute on 10/01/25.

UCU reserves its right to now progress this matter, but the institution is aware of the action needed to resolve this issue and we remain open to meaningful negotiations.
This dispute will continue until such time as all the above issues, and any issues related to any industrial action called for by the union in support of the dispute, have been resolved to UCU’s satisfaction.

In response, we are pleased to report that CCCU management have increased the frequency of the Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee to fortnightly during January and February, and CCCU UCU welcome the opportunity for further discussion to resolve the dispute to the satisfaction of its members. In addition, at the first of these more frequent JNCC meetings on 16/01/25, CCCU UCU requested an extension to the deadline for the Enhanced Early Exit Scheme (EEES), and for the proposed redundancies in the School of Humanities and Education Studies (SHES) to be on an enhanced basis, rather than on statutory terms.

We will update members as soon as we have an SMT response to these requests.

UPDATE February 2025:

• CCCU UCU’s proposal to extend the deadline for the EEES was REJECTED by SMT
• CCCU UCU’s proposal to extend the EEES deadline for colleagues placed at risk of compulsory redundancy in SHES was AGREED by SMT but only until 17/02/25 despite the consultancy period not ending until 28/02/25.
• CCCU UCU’s proposal that SMT honour the promise that was made during earlier redundancy consultation that any redundancies un 2024-25, including those currently proposed in SHES, would be on an enhanced basis was REJECTED by SMT.