The University Council is the University’s governing body whose duty it is to approve the strategic direction of the University and other important decisions regarding its business and management. The University is reducing the number of Council members and, as part of this, proposes to remove the two nominated union trustees for the first time in our history. All campus unions are dismayed by this, flying in the face of widespread practice as it does and apparently seeking to silence the authentic voice of staff.

The allocation of two union nominated trustees on Council is recognition of the importance of participative and transparent governance which we would obviously want to see continue. Trade union nominated trustees have the skills set and experience needed to contribute crucial knowledge and local ‘intelligence’ regarding industrial and public relations across campus. The members from the unions provide a direct link to all staff, especially on matters of urgency and high sensitivity. Taking away designated trade union seats from Council is causing mistrust, damaging relations between the University and trade union members, and jeopardising our long-standing good industrial relations.

We have urged the University to consider how the loss of union nominees on Council would also affect both the wellbeing of its staff and the reputation of the institution. We do not understand why the University seems bent on destroying trust and workings relationships built up over decades and are therefore hoping for a realisation that such a step is unnecessary, all the more so in the current environment in which close cooperation between all parties is essential.

This post follows on from “We wanted to negotiate, but we are losing our seat at the table”

For more detail, please see our position paper (here) compiled on behalf of UCU, Unite and Unison committees

Swansea University’s UCU committee brings many years of experience of engaging with management to our institution. To date, this has been successful – via negotiation, conciliation and dialogue. We’ve maintained good relations and weathered the worst of economic storms without compulsory redundancies, unlike other universities in Wales. But this may be coming to an end as we are now faced with losing our long-held place on the University’s governing body – Council.

The allocation of 2 trade union nominated trustees on Council has long been recognition of the importance of participative and transparent governance. But, having been told that it now needs to decrease numbers on Council, Swansea University is seeking to remove the 2 union trustees – the Council members who are in fact the only truly independent, authentic cross-campus voices.

Union nominated trustees provide Council with a direct link to all staff not just to the professoriate. This has been immensely helpful to Council, when other voices have proved less than effective in communicating matters of urgency or high sensitivity to the governing body. How does it look, therefore, if, as part of reducing the size of its governing body, the University chooses to remove its two trade union representatives?  

Swansea West MP, Geraint Davies, conscious of the historic role of trade unions in helping to establish the colleges of the University of Wales, has written powerfully to the Vice Chancellor supporting our case and asking that this important conduit be maintained.   

You can read his letter here:  he is awaiting a reply (6/4/20)