UCU members can access the free Education
Support Partnership helpline 24 hours a day for
counselling, information and advice.
www.ucu.org.uk/educationsupportpartnership
08000 562 561

UCU SHU branch – how we support members with problems

1.   UCU routinely helps members with individual problems arising from their employment at
Sheffield Hallam University. The range of problems experienced is wide and includes, for
example, bullying, disciplinary action, renewal of fixed term contracts, promotion and career
development, study leave, research facilities, performance, and harassment.

2. Members are strongly encouraged to contact SHU UCU as early as possible. Rapid referral to
UCU can nip a problem in the bud, whereas if matters are allowed to develop without UCU
intervention it may become too late for effective intervention.

3. In particular, any member who is asked to attend a meeting for disciplinary reasons with
management should immediately alert SHU UCU. It is our strong advice that they only attend
such a meeting in the presence of a UCU rep. However, the final decision on whether to be
accompanied is up to the member.

4. Members seeking assistance should contact the SHU UCU administrator at ucu@shu.ac.uk

5. Members are advised that, should they find themselves present at meetings where serious
issues relating to their performance or conditions of work arise unexpectedly, they should
immediately ask for time to seek UCU or other advice.

6. Members are also advised to make their own record, at the time, of any work related incidents or
developments which give grounds for concern.

7. UCU SHU branch is able to provide representation and casework assistance to members who
have an issue that has occurred whilst they are a member. The branch is not normally able to
provide representation or casework assistance to members who have only joined the union once
the problem has become apparent. Exceptional help may be given to a late joiner if:
– the member of staff has been in post for less than 3 months or has only recently become
eligible to join UCU
– the problem is one that SHU UCU committee believes should be pursued in the general
interests of other UCU members
– this will normally be at the discretion of the Branch Casework Coordinator who will take cases
to UCU SHU committee if needed

Please note: late joiners may still access other UCU services such as the Education Support
Partnership and website resources.
To be clear, there are limits to the support that UCU can offer to late joiners. This includes
representation from UCU regional officials and access to the UCU legal scheme if it should
become necessary, which will not be available to late joiners.
UCU members can access the free Education
Support Partnership helpline 24 hours a day for
counselling, information and advice.
www.ucu.org.uk/educationsupportpartnership
08000 562 561

8. Cases will normally be referred to a caseworker. Caseworkers are local UCU officers and reps
who have normally undertaken training about handling personal cases. The Casework
Coordinator allocates caseworkers, assisted by Casework Assistants and Branch Administrator.

9. Most cases are dealt with by liaison between the caseworker, the member, and SHU.

Exceptionally, the caseworker may recommend that a serious case should be forwarded to the
UCU Regional Office under the terms of UCU’s national legal protection scheme.
In the rare cases where legal advice is required, this will be obtained by the caseworker in
discussion with UCU Regional Office. Please see UCU’s regulations for legal advice.

10. Personal cases are kept strictly confidential to the Casework Coordinator, Casework Assistants
and Branch Administrator (or officers covering administration) and those caseworkers (UCU
officers and reps) to whom they refer the case. Material relating to individuals held by SHU UCU
is deemed to be held by the National UCU as far as the Data Protection Act is concerned and
not by SHU. General issues involved in personal cases may be reported to the UCU Committee
or UCU membership, but, except with the expressed permission of the member concerned, this
will be anonymised.

11. SHU has formal procedures to resolve disputes. Experience has shown that cases may often be
resolved informally but in some circumstances a more satisfactory outcome can be obtained by
using the formal procedures. Members will be advised accordingly; however, the decision on
which course of action to adopt rests unambiguously with the member concerned.

12. Advice is given to members on the understanding that:
• members will reveal all relevant facts to their caseworker
• they will consult their caseworker before communicating with management
• if they seek additional help outside SHU UCU this should be done with the knowledge
and support of their caseworker. If this is not done then UCU reserves the right to
withdraw support at this point
• they will provide such documentation as the caseworker requests.
Relevant documentation typically includes a CV, a chronology of recent events, and
supporting documents. A case commencement form is normally required at the outset to
enable the caseworker to make informed recommendations about how to proceed. Failure to
comply with these conditions, which are essential if UCU is to give its best advice to
members, may lead to the withdrawal of the support of UCU.

13. Members who are not happy with their caseworker should inform the Branch Administrator.

14. Disputes can arise between UCU members in which both parties seek the assistance of the
UCU. SHU UCU can provide both parties with union representation and support.

15.Members should be aware that caseworkers drawn from the Branch are volunteers with a
limited number of hours allocated to union business, and acting in conjunction with the duties of
their day job. Therefore there are limits on the total amount of time that they are able to devote
to any one case. In particular, once a problem has been resolved, the responsibility of the
caseworker is at an end. If a new problem arises, the member should contact SHU UCU at
ucu@shu.ac.uk – and not the original caseworker.

16.Though care has been taken in drafting this document, it may be that it conflicts, or will in the
future conflict, with National UCU advice on personal cases and legal aid. In all such cases,
National UCU advice, current at the time, shall take precedence.

Need support?  The process is:

  1. Basic info/advice – talk to your local rep, as good to make contact.
  2. More guidance – email ucu@shu.ac.uk and the SHU UCU Branch Administrator will send you the casework commencement form – when we get this back we can book surgery slot (normally about monthly). Here members can get initial guidance from experienced caseworkers online.
  3. Caseworker to support in formal process and attend meetings – again email ucu@shu.ac.uk and the Branch Administrator will send you the casework commencement form to complete.  When this comes back the branch CaseWork Co-ordinator allocates caseworkers.

SHU UCU Branch Bookable Surgery 

SHU UCU Branch offers regular online bookable surgery sessions throughout the academic year September to July.  Surgery sessions provide an opportunity for members to speak to an officer/reps in confidence regarding a work based problem.

Please email ucu@shu.ac.uk to book a surgery slot.

UCU members can get support from

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