In response to the rapidly unfolding Covid19 crisis, Kingston UCU have been urging senior management to act more quickly and decisively to enable home working, cancel face-to-face teaching and keep staff regularly updated. Our Health & Safety rep has raised concerns over the depletion of hygiene supplies on campus necessary to protect staff, students and the community.
We have insisted that the health and safety of staff and students, particularly those in high-risk groups or caring for those in high-risk groups, must be safeguarded in line with the university’s legal responsibilities. Kingston has suspended face-to-face teaching as of 17th March, but we have requested an emergency JNCC meeting between management, HR and the recognised trade unions, to discuss our ongoing concerns.
These include but are not restricted to,
- Hourly-paid and guest lecturers being paid even if they can’t deliver scheduled teaching remotely, as well as paid for the additional workload of designing and delivering content and assessment online.
- The safeguarding of staff working from home, ensuring that they are not expected to share personal email addresses, phone numbers, Skype, Facetime or similar details, that time is given to develop online content and workloads not increased.
- That homeworking arrangements in this extraordinary situation are temporary and no lasting changes to terms and conditions of employment are set in train as a consequence of staff working flexibly and dedicatedly to support students at this time.
Above all, we have major concerns about the wellbeing and security of frontline staff who are expected to work ‘as usual’ until Sunday 22nd, with a phased reduction ‘considered’ after that date. The safety of administrative, security, facilities management, cleaning, catering, technical, student support and library staff must be prioritised just as much as academic staff.
To this end we are asking Kingston UCU members and all Kingston academic staff to sign this Open Letter to the Vice-Chancellor: Covid-19 Open Letter from Kingston academic staff in support of non-academic colleagues
We hope members and all KU staff are looking after themselves. Please keep in contact with us.
Above all, we have major concerns about the wellbeing and security of frontline staff who are expected to work ‘as usual’ until Sunday 22nd, with a phased reduction ‘considered’ after that date. The safety of administrative, security, facilities management, cleaning, catering, technical, student support and library staff must be prioritised just as much as academic staff.