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This page reproduces the latest monthly bulletin from the UCU Developing Activists Network. You can get it e-mailed to you directly by applying through the national web site. Welcome to the DAN Bulletin for December 2007
Every month we will send you an issue of this bulletin, updating you on what UCU members are doing locally, giving you opportunities to get more involved in campaigning and providing you with the tools to effect real change in your workplaces. We also want to hear from you. Tell us what you are doing and help us celebrate our campaigning successes together.
A BiG YEAR FOR DAN
Season’s greetings to everyone in DAN! Welcome to the last DAN bulletin for the calendar year 2007. And it’s been a big year. This year’s highlights:
• Over 3000 UCU members in DAN
• Hugely successful Congress Fringe event, featuring Congress the Movie’
• Launch of our new ‘Making a Difference in your Workplace’ events for new activists, with three held this year and three more scheduled for early in the New Year.
• Relaunched our website (www.ucu.org.uk/dan) and revamped our resources
• New projects helping members across the new union to get involved in UCU.
Why not pass this message on to a colleague and encourage them to join DAN? All they have to do is email
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with the message, ‘I want to join DAN’. It’s as simple as that.And remember to tell us what you’re doing locally. Whether you’re a member who’s recruited three of their colleagues, you’ve just been to a training event or you’ve written to an MP, whether you’ve responded to one of our surveys or just want to tell us about what you and your union are doing locally, we are always interested to hear from you, so drop us a line at
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THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY! DO YOU WORK IN FE? SIGN THE CHRISTMAS E-CARD - CLICK HERE: www.ucu.org.uk/abetterdeal As part of our campaign for a better deal for FE, UCU is collecting signatures for our e-card to the employers and we need your help. If you haven't already signed, please do so now and pass on the link www.ucu.org.uk/abetterdeal to every member for whom you have an email address. Let's send the employers a clear seasonal message that we want a better deal for FE HELP DEFEND LIFELONG LEARNING
As we reported last week, UCU is campaigning against government plans to cut the budgets for students taking second degrees of equivalent or lower qualification to their first degree. You can help defend access to lifelong learning by getting involved in this campaign: *** WHAT YOU CAN DO*** Sign the online petition NOW: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ELQFunding/ To get more involved in this campaign, click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2903 SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST MILITARY AID TO COLOMBIA
The UK gives military aid to the Colombian government, despite the fact that army units have assassinated many hundreds of trade unionists, including many education staff. Please add your support to the ‘Justice for Colombia’ petition to suspend UK military aid to the Colombian armed forces until their human rights record improves. Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists, with 84 activists having been murdered last year, and UCU supports the campaign to freeze military aid until the murders end.
SIGN THE PETITION - just click here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Colombia/ PARTICIPANTS GIVE FIRST REGIONAL DAN EVENT A BIG THUMBS UP
“Thanks for an extremely helpful and effective day's training.”, Bruce Johnson, London Metropolitan University “Thank you very much for an extremely stimulating and informative day learning about getting active in UCU”, Margot Lindsay, University College London Just some of the responses from the new activists who attended the first, highly successful, regional DAN event in London recently. Participants from HE and FE and from institutions across the whole of London networked, learned new skills, were introduced to basic union activity and shared information and experience in an informal setting that made the day both informative and fun. These events, titled ‘Making a Difference in your Workplace’ are aimed at encouraging new members and first-time activists to get more involved in the union.
NEW DAN EVENTS NEAR YOU – BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Following the first successful DAN regional event in London, we’re delighted to announce a series of new dates for cross-sectoral, city-based events, details of which are below: Wednesday 16th January 2008 – Gateshead
Wednesday 23rd January 2008 – Manchester
Wednesday 20th February 2008 - Leeds DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO A DAN EVENT - PLACES ARE FILLING UP FAST, SO BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. READ MORE AND SIGN UP HERE: http://www.ucu.org.uk/makingadifference
LIFE CHANGERS – NOMINATE SOMEONE NOW The Life Changers campaign celebrates the life-transforming potential of further and higher education. The Life Changers Awards help to raise the public profile of the amazing work being undertaken by our members every day. You can find out more about the Life Changers campaign at: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1788
UCU TRAINING
Together with UCU’s Developing Activist Network (DAN) - UCU Training offers courses for new members, giving you the opportunity to find our more about your union, discover practical ways to get involved along with sharing ideas and experience with other members. Over the next few months training events will be organised throughout the country.
The highlights for December and January include:
Negotiating & Bargaining – Tue 11th & Wed 12th Dec 2007 in London Health & Safety induction – Wed 12th & Thurs 13th Dec 2007 in Birmingham Representing Members 2 – Wed 9th & Thurs 10th Jan 2008 in Birmingham If you would like to find out full information about our range of courses you can register online www.ucu.org.uk/training or you can e-mail Linda Ball
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or call her on 020 7520 3228. HOW DO I LOBBY MY MP? We all need friends in high places. Whenever we’re campaigning, whether nationally or locally, we’re always looking for allies and it really helps to have MPs’ support. A local MP will always reply to a letter from a constituent and they will be sensitive to issues around their colleges and universities, particularly near election times. No college principal or vice chancellor likes having their MP write to them following correspondence from UCU members. Still less will they like questions being raised in Parliament or motions being put down that reflect our perspective. The DAN website contains detailed advice about how and when to lobby your MP. Click here to read more: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2295
And that’s all for this year,
See you in the New Year
Jonathan and the DAN team
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