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Dear Colleagues
We (ECU with JNCHES) launched an equality document this week:
'Partnership for Equality - Action for Higher Education'.
Please order a copy from us if you have not already received one.
Mail your order to :[log in to unmask]
Three copies have been sent to each institution that subscribes to UCEA
(University and Colleges Employers Association), including one to the
director of HR.
An article about it SEE BELOW (for use in internal newsletters) has gone to
every HEI press office - Please read it, please follow up with your
newsletter editor and union colleagues.
Boosting equality thru co-operation
Equality and diversity in [your HEI] are being boosted with new guidance
that advises on applying equality legislation, and recommends that employers
work in partnership with their trades unions in that endeavour.
Partnership for Equality: Action for Higher Education is a glossy, A4
publication being distributed to every HEI and union branch by the partners
who are publishing the document -the negotiating body that incorporates all
the HE trades unions and the employers [JNCHES], and the Equality Challenge
Unit.
The Secretary of State for Education and the HE Ministers in Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland all commend the document to us in their signed
foreword.
"A lot of commitment from the representatives on JNCHES - unions and
management - went into this," says Jocelyn Prudence, Chief Executive of
UCEA. "It is now important that individuals in the HEIs encourage their
institution to build on this and implement the recommendations. The
structures are now in place to support that work, through the JNCHES and the
ECU for example."
The guidance updates and improves the 2000 "Framework for Partnership" paper
- a landmark document that was agreed jointly by unions and management. But
that paper didn't enjoy a high profile. It looked and read like a committee
background paper, and arguably, it missed its timing too.
The couple of years since it was issued have seen a step change in the
nature of equality requirements in higher education. Radical new legislation
- the Race Relations (Amendment) Act - imposes a duty on universities and
colleges (and others 'public bodies') positively to promote good race
relations and equal opportunities. That puts equality onto a whole new
footing. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act [SENDA] is now in
force, and legislation outlawing discrimination on grounds of sexual
preference; on religion or belief; and age is due in the next three years.
The imperative to implement this new guidance is thus now very clear
"The new partnership document will give those universities without an
equalities promotion structure that incorporates all the recognised trades
unions the basis for doing so," said Joyce Hill, Director of the ECU. "It
will provide those that are on their way a measure of where they need to get
to. And those for whom this is old hat can give themselves a large and
public pat on the back!"
"A final clinching quote from your VC? / unions rep?"
BOX:
The Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff, the national
collective bargaining body for HE pay and conditions, has broken new ground
in negotiations with the employers, and already issued guidance on equal pay
and improved personnel management. The Equality Challenge Unit works across
the sector to promote diversity and equal opportunities, its first year has
been marked by its support for the sector in implementing the RRAA.
BOLD:
Get your document from your union / UCEA / ECU.
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The Equality Challenge Unit promotes diversity and equality of opportunity for all who work or seek to work in higher education. We are sponsored by the representative bodies (SCOP and Universities UK) and the four UK HE funding bodies.
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