Academic Contract and Working to Contract by UCU SHU Branch Committee

What does the SHU academic contract consist of? Nationally agreed terms and conditions; Locally agreed terms and conditions, which are contractual; This information is contained in three main sources, the national contract, the local staff handbook (which is contractual) and any further local agreements reached between UCU and SHU (e.g. the Problem Resolution Framework).

Summary guide to the contract Teaching hours Working week Working year Self-managed time Holidays Work planning

Teaching hours Maximum of 462 contact hours in year, based on a norm of 14 hours per teaching week Maximum of 18 contact hours per week All scheduled teaching counts as class contact time (this includes office hours for seeing students, dissertation supervision etc.). Distance learning should be included in the 462 hours and in the weekly maximum of 18 hours.

Teaching hours For each hour of teaching time staff should be credited with at least one hour of time for preparation and marking in their overall working week. Staff with major academic management roles, such as course leader, year tutor etc., should have a reduction in their 462 teaching hours.

Working week Normal 37 hour working week Weekend working is voluntary Maximum of 2 evening sessions per week Staff are entitled to time off in lieu for evening and weekend working Staff can decline to work a three session day (morning, afternoon and evening) and a split session day (morning and evening) Staff should have a one-hour lunch break, excluding travelling time between sites

Working year The year is divided into 3 parts: 38 week academic year for teaching and related duties (which is common to the vast majority of staff) with no more than 36 teaching weeks (maximum) Self-managed time Holidays/annual leave

Defending the academic year The following events should not be organised outside the 38-week academic year: Examination boards Away days Open days Committee meetings Subject group or departmental meetings Teaching Placement visits

Self-managed time This consists of approximately 4 weeks and 3 days This is time for research, scholarship and professional development It is time which is outside the 38 week academic year and holidays It is principally self-managed and the time should be used for the career development of the individual lecturer Activities for SMT are for discussion and agreement, not for imposition by managers

Holidays 35 days annual leave Plus public holidays (8) and extra statutory days (4) Plus days the institution is closed Holidays should be booked on the holiday form Up to 3 days annual leave can be carried over to the next year

Working to contract This is being undertaken as a sanction in the 2016 trade dispute over pay. It is part of a programme of industrial action. Working to contract makes strike days more effective because work is not made up on other days.

How all members can work to contract Take all your holidays – book them now Take all your self-managed time – book it now Do not teach above 462 hours Make sure you get your allowances for admin roles Do not work more than 37 hours per week

How all members can work to contract Do not work in the evenings unless evening duties are part of your agreed work plan Do not work weekends unless it is part of your agreed work plan Do not reply to work emails outside regular office hours Take a lunch break every day

How all members can work to contract Be aware of health and safety Give yourself enough travel time between sites and classes/meetings Avoid multi-tasking, e.g. answering emails while in a meeting Give yourself enough preparation time for teaching and meetings

How all members can work to contract Do not undertake duties which are not part of your work plan Do not volunteer for additional work Do not provide teaching cover If you are on a fractional contract do not work on non-work days Don’t keep going the extra marathon!

How all members can work to contract If all your allocated work cannot be done in a 37 hour week ask your manager which work you should not do Check your work plan to see it complies with the contract Use the UCU workload calculator to check where your time goes

Making the work to contract visible and collective Meet with union members regularly in your subject group to discuss the work to contract Go out for lunch as a group Add to your signature: ‘working to contract in support of UCU’s 2016 pay claim’ Raise excess workloads with managers