Over the summer University representatives and members of Sussex unions, (including UCU, Unite and Unison) have been meeting regularly to discuss and progress elements of the joint agreement of 8 June 2022 between University and College Union (UCU) and the University Executive Group (UEG).

The agreement called an end to all industrial action under the current UCU mandate (to 7 October 2022), including a marking and assessment boycott and the threat of strike action.

During this period we have held weekly meetings which have focused on the following areas:

• Equalities Workstream: Equalities impact assessments, workload commitment and remuneration for equalities work, action plans for the elimination of all inequality pay gaps, retention of black and racially minoritised staff and ULT anti-racism work.
• Pay and Fixed Term Contracts Workstream: Salary and redundancy payments, employment over holiday periods for FTCs, making fixed-term staff permanent, overtime pay, maternity pay, promotion process, parental leave, additional increment points review to address staff pay before the end of the calendar year along with working above grade.
• Doctoral Tutors’ Contracts Workstream: Postgraduate Researcher contracts, training and re-deployment options, tutor baseline pay grade, contract terms and conditions, contract length, multiplier, and sick / bereavement / parental leave
• Workload Workstream: Transparency of workload allocation, impact of workload policies and allocation, impacts of workload on health and safety and qualitative aspects of workload.
• Post-6pm Teaching Workstream: Post-6pm teaching policy and allocation
• Living Wage Workstream: The Voluntary Living Wage for all University employees

If you have any questions you should speak to your respective union representative in the first instance or your line manager.

We will share the next update in the coming weeks.