- Conference
- 2024 National Higher Education Conference
- Date
- 11 October 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that
On 1 August 2013, Ulster University outsourced its facilities services, i.e. cleaners, porters, security officers, mail room staff and all catering services which were transferred out to two companies, NOONAN Service Group and Mount Charles Catering.
Staff were transferred to NOONAN and Mount Charles under TUPE. Anyone employed after 1 August 2013 was employed on NOONAN or Mount Charles terms and conditions, meaning 15 days less annual leave per year, no enhanced sick pay, no paid family responsibilities leave and significantly lower employer’s pension contributions.
Ulster University recently became accredited with the real Living Wage Foundation, something that they readily agreed to, meaning a real-terms pay rise of 14% for low paid workers.
Conference believes that
1)This two-tiered system is inherently unfair to those workers employed after 1 August 2013.
2)Any staff employed before 1 August 2013 should keep their university terms and conditions at a minimum.
3)The only solution is to campaign for Ulster University to bring these services back in-house, where they belong.
Conference instructs the Higher Education Service Group
1)To lobby UCEA to encourage all Higher Education employers to become real Foundation Living Wage employers.
2)To oppose outsourcing of any kind in Higher Education.
3)To seek to work with regions, branches and members where services are outsourced, including Ulster University, to campaign to bring all outsourced services back in house.