Illness, stress and injury
For more information from UCU on your holiday rights (if you are ill while on leave you can postpone your leave until you are well again), the signs and symptoms of stress, and the obligations the university has to ensure your health and safety, please see the UCU webpage https://www.ucu.org.uk/illnessandstress If you have a health and safety related problem, please get in touch with the committee health and safety officer (Ian Fellows i.fellows@staff.newman.ac.uk).
Discrimination, bullying and harassment
If you feel you have a particular problem, please get in touch with the branch as soon as possible. You can speak to us in confidence by contacting a caseworker, or the chair or vice-chair. The UCU website has some useful general information https://www.ucu.org.uk/bullying
Sexual harassment helpline
UCU have a helpline to provide support to those experiencing sexual harassment and any reps who may want counselling support in supporting members is now launched.
This is a dedicated service for UCU members which any UCU member can reach on 0800 138 8724. The helpline is in collaboration with Education Support Partnership (Ed Support). Any member who has concerns or is experiencing sexual harassment can call 0800 138 8724 in confidence, free of charge and 24/7 to talk about their experience, discuss options, receive counselling (if clinically appropriate) and details of further sources of support, if necessary.
This is in addition to the workplace support from your branch. The helpline is an opportunity to discuss confidentiality your experience and talk through what you want to do next which may include asking your branch to support you take action against your employer.
UCU is fully committed to eradicating sexual violence and harassment. Please call if you need to – we want to support you in every way we can.
What to expect when calling the service:
The call handlers will read out a confidentiality and code of ethics statement, take a few details and will ask you to discuss the issue you are experiencing. Ed Support’s specialists assess each call individually to locate the best course of action for you. Please note that if you request a call-back or are expecting a follow up call from the helpline this will appear on your phone as a withheld number for confidentiality reasons. If you need to get back in touch or enquire about a call-back to the service, please ring 0800 138 8724 or email them here – please include UCU sexual harassment helpline in your email subject and in the body of the email so they direct you to the right place.
If the lines are particularly busy or out of hours you may find that your call is answered by a specialist in a global service centre. This is to make sure as many calls are answered as possible so distressed callers are not being put through to an answer machine. Please rest assured that all specialists are suitably qualified and trained and your call will be handled in the best way possible.
Insecure Contracts
For UCU’s ‘Fixed term and hourly paid news’, and for more information, click here https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/2384/Insecure-contracts
Disciplinaries, dismissal and redundancy
If you have been threatened with disciplinary action or dismissal, you can ask a caseworker to advise you and to represent you in any meetings with management. Your caseworker will also make sure the university follows the correct procedure.
Counselling, support and financial assistance
A 24/7 support line is available for counselling, support, financial assistance and more through Education Support Partnership.
Education Support Partnership provide independent, confidential 24/7 support, to help people deal with stress and anxiety, bullying, career and money worries, and a range of other issues.
Contact Number: 08000 562 561 (helpline) / 07909 341229 (text)
Email: support@edsupport.org.uk
Website: www.educationsupportpartnership.org.uk
See the UCU website for more details https://www.ucu.org.uk/educationsupportpartnership
Legal help for you and your family
UCU offers UCU Law Extra*, an award winning team of experts covering the complete range of legal services which can meet all your needs, including: family law services, wills online, probate and estate administration, lasting powers of attorney, property (including conveyancing and landlord & tenant), road traffic defence, professional negligence, medical negligence.
UCU Law Extra is able to offer these services to you at competitive prices by our partner Slater and Gordon. UCU may receive a referral fee and such proceed will be used to support our front line service to members.
To make an enquiry without any obligation call us on Freephone 0800 884 0164 or email us at: UCULawExtra@slatergordon.co.uk
See https://www.ucu.org.uk/lawextra for more details.
UCU also offer support to members for other issues including personal injury claims, CPD, financial advice and insurance. Please see the UCU website for more information https://www.ucu.org.uk/ucuplus