UNISON Procedure Agreement

Procedure Agreement between the University of Wales Aberystwyth and UNISON

  1. The purpose of this agreement is to provide machinery for negotiation and consultation between the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and UNISON in respect of all grades of Clerical, Secretarial, Manual and Related Staff.
  2. All questions of salaries and conditions of service shall be covered by this machinery other than those negotiated nationally between UNISON and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, hereafter referred to as "UCEA". The application of any such agreement and any matter arising therefrom shall be covered by this procedure. This agreement reserves for the University the normal rights of the employer with regard to the appointment, remuneration and promotion of individual members of the clerical, manual and related staff, but does not preclude discussion by the Clerical, Secretarial, Manual and Related Staffs Joint Consultative Committee of matters relating to the remuneration or conditions of service of UNISON members on issues not negotiated nationally.
  3. An authoritative Clerical, Secretarial, Manual and Related Staffs Joint Consultative Committee shall be set up, composed of the members of the Non-Teaching Staffs Committee of the University and 8 elected representatives of the local branch of UNISON. The Regional Officer of UNISON shall have the right of attendance. The Joint Consultative Committee shall be empowered to negotiate on all matters affecting Clerical, Secretarial, Manual and Related Staff in accordance with Paragraph 2 above.
  4. The University shall appoint the Chair of the Joint Consultative Committee. If the Chair is absent, the Committee shall elect a Chair for the day from among the members present. The Joint Consultative Committee shall have a stated quorum of three representatives from either side, excluding the Chair.
  5. The Joint Consultative Committee shall meet at the written request of either side stating the business to be discussed. Scheduled meetings will normally be arranged once a term and included in the University's list of committee dates.
  6. Collective issues within the terms of paragraph 2 above may be raised directly for Committee consideration or after prior discussion between appropriate representatives of the University administration and the representatives of UNISON.
  7. Individual issues within the terms of paragraph 2 above shall in the first instance be raised by the individual with the Head of Department accompanied if desired by the UNISON departmental representative.
  8. Failing settlement under paragraph 7 the issue may be raised by the Branch representatives with the University administration and/or for consideration by the Joint Consultative Committee.
  9. If, after the procedures outlined above have been exhausted, settlement has not been reached, the matter shall - if relating to questions of the interpretation of agreements reached at national level - proceed to (a) and (b) below. If however, the matter at issue falls outside the scope of such national agreements, then the University and UNISON will either meet within 14 days to consider the possible use of the available local conciliation machinery (e.g. the services of the Department of Employment), or mutually agree to use the machinery of the Central Council as set out below.
    1. The issue shall be raised with the Joint Secretaries of the Joint Committee of the appropriate Committee of the Central Council who may, at their discretion, immediately nominate a small joint sub-committee to look into the complaint or refer it to the next meeting of the Joint Committee for resolution.
    2. In the event of failure to reach agreement under (a) the issue may be referred to a meeting of the Central Council through the Joint Secretaries.
    If the Central Council is unable to resolve the issue at stage (a) or (b) and/or both parties agree - the matter may be referred to independent conciliation or arbitration at national level through the offices of the Department of Employment, or as otherwise mutually agreed.
  10. The University and UNISON are agreed that until all the procedures specified above have been carried out in order to reach a settlement, there shall be no stoppage of work either of a partial or general nature. No alterations shall be made to the conditions of service of the employees during the considerations of any issue until the above machinery is exhausted.
  11. Reports and agreed recommendations of the Joint Consultative Committee shall be submitted to the Staffing Committee of the University, whose decision has to be confirmed by the University Council.
  12. Adequate facilities shall be given to the UNISON Branch Secretary for him/her to contact staff who wish to seek advice on matters concerning their employment. Representatives wishing to leave their place of work during normal working hours for this purpose shall obtain prior permission from the Head of Department or his/her nominee: such permission will not be unreasonably withheld.
  13. Suitably sited notice boards shall be placed at the disposal of UNISON in order to display literature acceptable to the University.
  14. Accommodation shall be made available to enable bona fide union meetings to be held outside normal working hours.
  15. This agreement is without prejudice to the rights of any individual employee to raise with the University any matter affecting him or her.

Version V190307