Preamble

Over the course of the spring and summer, SU UCU reps have been following a twin strategy:

1. To enable the university to recruit and retain students to protect jobs and employment;
2. To ensure that any return to on campus teaching must place the health and safety of members as the highest priority.

The ability to offer students an ‘on campus experience’ was deemed necessary for student recruitment and we accepted the need for that. But we are clear that such an experience should not come at the expense of the health, safety, and wellbeing of our members.

In recent weeks, UCU UK national office has advocated that all teaching should be online except where it is essential for there to be face-to-face teaching.

UCU committee notes that rates of Covid-19 are increasing and that this reinforces our view that health and safety must always take priority.

UCU committee has worked with the university over the summer to do what we can to ensure that all teaching spaces are safe but we accept that there can be no 100% guarantees about this.

Members have a range of views on what is deemed to be essential for on campus teaching and an array of attitudes to what is acceptable in terms of personal risk.

Advice to members – before returning to campus

Before commencing any teaching, members should have received the risk assessment for their work area. If you do not have it, ask your line manager or Head of College. Do not teach until you have seen it and understand its requirements.

Before return to campus all members should have completed the online course and return to work checklist. If you are in a high-risk category you should work from home if possible. In addition to discussing your situation with Occupational Health we would advise obtaining the opinion of your own GP.

If you are not in a high-risk category but still feel unable to return to campus due to anxiety or other reason, you should obtain an opinion from your own GP that you should work from home. If you are refused permission to work from home, please ask for advice from UCU.

Advice to members – on campus

Only teaching that is ‘essential’ should be done on campus. However, what is or is not essential is open to interpretation. In the first instance have a conversation with your line manager/Head of College about this if you are worried about returning to campus. If you cannot find an agreement, please contact UCU.

All teaching rooms should always be safe in in accordance with the risk assessment (e.g. 2 metre social distancing, thorough cleaning, adequate ventilation, and provision of wipes for additional cleaning of equipment etc). If you find that your teaching room is unsafe for any reason, do not teach but immediately inform your College so it can be made safe. Please also let UCU know so that we can monitor the situation.

It is not the responsibility of teaching staff to ensure that students follow health and safety protocols, but we would encourage members to request that students do follow those protocols.

If you see or witness any unsafe practice, please report it immediately to the College or University and inform UCU.

Swansea University UCU contact details: ucucommittee@swansea.ac.uk