In line with the rest of the union, the Branch functions under open democratic principles and a Constitution  which has been decided by members and which is in line with UCU national rules.  Members are served by a network of School/Divisional Representatives, an Executive Committee consisting of Branch Officers elected at the Annual General Meeting, and a Branch Committee comprising the Executive together with the School/Divisional Representatives. If you have an individual problem, please contact your School/Divisional Representative in the first instance. 

The 1-2 pm time-slot on Wednesday afternoons is recognised by the University for UCU meetings.  We aim to hold at least three regular Branch Meetings each year, plus at least one for Coach Lane Campus members.  By agreement with Management, teaching and other University/School activities should not be scheduled in this time-slot, and therefore no member should be prevented from attending a Branch Meeting.  Except for urgent situations, we aim to decide the dates of meetings well enough in advance (see Diary) for you to be able to inform your line manger that you have a prior commitment. 

In between Branch Meetings, the Branch Committee meets at least once every two months, and the Executive at least once every month (except for August).  As well as dealing with contemporary issues, the Branch Committee and Branch Executive are charged with carrying out a number of tasks which form the basis of the Work Programme agreed at the Annual general Meeting.

For the most part, the work of Branch Officers involves policy discussion, negotiating with Management through such forums as the Joint Negotiating Committee, the weekly UCU/Management meetings , the Equality Sub-group  of the JNC and various working groups, and in representing members in individual case work and externally, at UCU regional and national meetings and at Newcastle upon Tyne TUC . 

A summary of important news items from various meetings and events will in due course be found on our News Blog. Via our network of representatives, we maintain regular contact with members, circulating important communications (see ‘Messages’) and a Branch Newsletter every couple of months.