Welcome to our first newsletter for 2010 – something we want to become a regular communication and up-date tool to keep in touch and reduce e-mail traffic.

Branch AGM

This was held on 10 August by video conference and 27 members attended across the 3 campuses. The new branch office holders and executive committee are:

A summary of events and issues 2009-2010

• The impact and effects of the restructuring & redundancies that occurred in 2009.
• High numbers of fixed term rather than permanent appointments.
• Issues related to inadequate staffing as a result of the employer’s unwillingness to reappoint or the continuous delays in the appointment process. (A recurring issue noted in previous years).
• We have gained 18 new members (after losing too many in the restructuring)
• Our current membership is 210, down a little from last year.
• The Branch had representation on the REM process, in an observer role.
• Representation on health & safety, strategic health & safety & staff council
• Consultation on HR policies & procedures & good working relationship with HR.
• We have challenged UCOL consistently about fixed-term appointment processes and have had several successful outcomes for members.
• We continue to support individual members on employment matters.
• Advocate for retirement settlements (3 members).

We have had a number of successful functions

1. Welcome BBQ – attended by TEU president Tom Ryan
2. General Staff Day – appreciating general staff.
3. Red Bag Day
4. International Women’s Day – bread & roses
5. Workshops : -‘Know your collective ‘
6. ‘Managing your manager’ workshop (run in Whanganui – will be offered on other campuses.

Commencing September

• Negotiations on the collective employment agreement

Coming soon:

• Site parties to meet the exec team for each site
• PN & Wairarapa – Workshop – ‘Managing your manager’