May 2025 Newsletter

Dear comrades,

We hope you had a wonderful bank holiday (and solidarity with our members who still had to work!). We’re back with our May newsletter, including this month’s members meeting recap, other goings on and upcoming events.

May members meeting recording & minutes

Recording: Branch Meeting-20250520_130427-Meeting Recording.mp4 

Minutes: Branch Meeting Minutes 20.05.25.docx 

Please be aware we have changed the name of our ‘Branch Executive’ to ‘Branch Committee’: Branch Committee – University of Bristol UNISON

Vacant committee positions 

Keen to get involved with the branch committee? We have the following roles open: assistant branch secretary; recruitment officer; social secretary; retired members officer. For more info, email the branch unison-office@bristol.ac.uk. 

National Pay Offer Negotiations update

The latest national annual pay negotiations concluded with a percentage increase of 1.4% substantially below RPI inflation this past year of 4.47%, representing a fifteenth consecutive real terms pay cut!

There will be an email consultation on whether to take industrial action in the coming months, possibly as early as June (to be confirmed as we are coordinating with other higher education unions). 

Depending on the outcome, we may then be formally balloted on taking action (via post). It is crucial that your contact details are up to date to be able to take part.

A reminder to make sure your details are up to date, especially your primary email contact and address: https://my.unison.org.uk/

Help lobby your MP about the Higher Education funding crisis 

This is part of a coordinated advocacy campaign UNISON are undertaking across the country to help stand up for our jobs and save higher education funding.

We’re hoping members can write to their MP for the possibility to meet in parliament on Tuesday 3rd June, which UNISON will support you in attending.

Help Lobby your MP about the Higher Education funding crisis

Submit your questions for the CPO & CFO 

We have invited James Bigwood (Chief People Officer) and Peter Vermeulen (Chief Financial Officer) to attend our branch committee meeting in July – we want your questions to pass onto them. The form closes on Monday 2nd June.

Submit your questions for our Chief Financial Officer & Chief People Officer

National Anti-Austerity Demonstration

A big national People’s Assembly Against Austerity demonstration is happening on Saturday 7th June in London.

This is supported by UNISON nationally and by our branch’s recent Anti-Austerity Demo resolution – University of Bristol UNISON.
It’s really important that as many people across the country attend as possible in order to put pressure on the Labour government not to escalate austerity and for us to ensure Higher Education funding and staff pay in particular is central to these demands.

As this image shows, our offer is the worst of all public sectors:

Coach tickets from Bristol & Weston Super Mare are available via Headfirst: https://hdfst.uk/e129422

Our branch donated to help subsidise these coaches, so if you are a UNISON member please contact the organisers if you require any discounted tickets.

Some of our Branch Committee will be there with our branch banners and we hope to see you there too!

ACT NOW: UNISON survey on PIPs 

The government has announced sweeping changes to how Personal Independent Payments (PIPs) are paid. The eligibility criteria for people claiming daily living support will be tightened. UNISON needs to hear from disabled members about how the proposed changes will affect them.

ACT NOW: UNISON survey on PIPs – University of Bristol UNISON 

LGBT+ officer update 

Some May updates from our LGBT+ officer Theo, including our response to the Supreme Court ruling, discussions with the EDI team and future plans.

LGBT+ Officer Update – May 2025 – University of Bristol UNISON 

Dispatches from Get Active weekend 

Our international officer Eleni and women’s officer Verity attended the South West Get Active weekend in Croyde Bay at the start of the month. Read Eleni’s summary.

Dispatches from Get Active Weekend – University of Bristol UNISON 

Bake sale successes! 

This month our branch held bake sales for Trans Aid Bristol and Palestinian causes.

Over £400 raised by Trans Aid bake sale – University of Bristol UNISON,

Over £450 raised on Workplace Day of Action for Palestine – University of Bristol UNISON 

Upcoming events of interest 

Join our WhatsApp groups 

We have two WhatsApp groups: ‘Conversation’ for informal chatting for the whole branch and ‘Announcement’ for announcements, where only admins can send messages. If you’d like to join either or both, email the branch unison-office@bristol.ac.uk. 

 
With very best wishes, 
The comms team (Mia & Alex T)