Email UCU@lincoln.ac.uk or speak to your representative. Briefly explain the issue and highlight any meeting date or deadline. Contact the branch early so you can discuss your options; workplace procedures and legal claims can have time limits.

Guidance: UCU: getting help

Visit Meet Your Reps to find the branch officers and representatives listed for your school or area. If you are unsure who to approach, email UCU@lincoln.ac.uk and ask for help finding the appropriate contact.

A union representative can act as your companion at qualifying disciplinary and grievance hearings. The statutory right does not cover every workplace meeting. Contact the branch to check the relevant procedure and arrange support, and make your request for a companion clear to your employer.

Guidance: Acas: disciplinary hearings·Acas: grievance meetings

Contact the branch promptly with the meeting’s date and purpose. Keep the invitation and relevant documents, and ask how best to share them with your representative. Check the University procedure and discuss preparation and accompaniment before the meeting. Do not ignore a response deadline while waiting for advice.

Guidance: UCU: dealing with problems·Acas: disciplinary hearings

UCU expects members’ casework information to be handled confidentially. Your representative should explain who may need information to support your case, such as an appropriate UCU officer. Ask about confidentiality and document sharing at the outset. UCU’s privacy notice explains how it uses and discloses personal information.

Guidance: UCU: handling casework·UCU privacy notice

Please contact us as early as possible, highlight any deadline or meeting date, and ask when you can expect a response. If a deadline is close and you have not heard back, contact your representative as well. Do not assume a deadline has changed while you wait.

Guidance: UCU: getting help

UCU covers eligible people working in post-school education, including lecturers, researchers and other education professionals. Part-time and hourly paid staff can join, and there are membership routes for eligible postgraduates. If you are unsure which union or membership category fits your role at Lincoln, check the joining guidance or contact us.

Guidance: UCU: joining FAQs

Complete UCU’s online membership application and choose the category that fits your circumstances. Enter your employer, earnings and contact details accurately. For your work at Lincoln, select the University of Lincoln and its branch where applicable. Contact the branch if you need help with the process.

Guidance: UCU: joining guidance

Your subscription depends on your membership category and eligible earnings, with any applicable local subscription added. Use UCU’s current rates or online joining form to find the amount that applies to you. Some categories qualify for reduced or free membership, subject to their conditions.

Sign in to My UCU to update your membership record. Keep your contact information, employment details and earnings accurate, and check your membership category when your circumstances change. An outdated record can affect your subscription and access to some benefits.

Guidance: UCU: your membership

Do not assume that joining will cover an existing dispute. UCU’s legal-services rules say that disputes beginning before membership are not normally eligible for legal services. Contact the branch, explain when the issue started and ask what assistance may be available in your circumstances.

Guidance: UCU: legal-services FAQs

Membership supports a collective voice on pay and working conditions, alongside access to workplace advice, support and representation. UCU also offers professional-development resources and member services. Legal assistance and some benefits have eligibility conditions; check the relevant scheme for details.

Guidance: UCU: getting help

UCU brings members’ concerns about working conditions, policies and organisational change into discussions with the University. The published recognition framework distinguishes local negotiations from matters handled nationally. It provides for local collective bargaining through a Joint Negotiating Committee when required.

Guidance: Published recognition text, January 2020

Start with the University’s Organisational Change Policy and the documents issued about the proposed changes. Contact the branch early, highlight any consultation or meeting deadlines, and ask for help understanding what the proposals mean for you. The process depends on the proposals and the policy that applies.

Guidance: University Policies A–Z

Union representatives gather members’ views, question proposals and discuss ways to avoid or reduce redundancies and address their effects. Collective consultation and individual support are related but different. Contact the branch if your own role is affected, even if collective discussions are already taking place.

Guidance: Acas: redundancy consultation

Our Workplace Policies & Agreements page brings useful links together. You can also use the University’s Policies A–Z to find its official policy links. Follow those links for the available versions, and contact the branch if you need help identifying the policy relevant to your situation.

The branch’s published recognition materials describe how the University works with its recognised unions, UCU and UNISON. They cover consultation, local negotiations and resolving collective disputes. Ask the branch for the current agreed version if you need to rely on it in a particular case.

Guidance: Published recognition text, January 2020

In the published recognition text, JCC means Joint Consultative Committee. It is described as a forum for consultation and communication about matters affecting staff terms and conditions. Matters requiring negotiation can be referred to a Joint Negotiating Committee, or JNC.

Guidance: Published recognition text, January 2020

Use the University’s official grievance and disciplinary policy links below, or browse Workplace Policies & Agreements. Some documents may require your University login. If you are involved in a formal process, contact the branch promptly and include any meeting date or response deadline.

Guidance: University Policies A–Z

We represent members on workplace issues, bring colleagues’ concerns into discussions with management and organise collectively for better working conditions, fairness and a stronger staff voice.

Lincoln UCU is a member-led branch. Officers and the branch committee carry out its day-to-day work within UCU’s national and local rules. Our directory introduces the people holding branch roles and shows opportunities to get involved.

Meet Your Reps lists branch officers, school representatives and the postgraduate officer. Use the school or area filter to find a relevant contact. If you are unsure who to approach, email UCU@lincoln.ac.uk.

Members shape branch decisions through meetings, elections and discussion. The committee handles day-to-day business, subject to the branch’s rules and UCU’s national procedures. Contact the branch if you would like to raise a proposal or understand how a particular decision will be made.

Guidance: Published local rules, 2017/18

Check your latest branch invitation for the date and joining details. See News & Statements for published updates. If you have not received an invitation or want to check the next meeting, email UCU@lincoln.ac.uk.

Lincoln UCU members can attend members’ meetings; you do not need to hold a branch role. Committee meetings are separate. Voting rights can depend on membership category and the business being considered, so check with the branch if you are unsure.

Guidance: Published local rules, 2017/18·UCU: student and postgraduate membership

Recent published branch work includes defending jobs, strengthening staff involvement in University decisions and responding to the teaching-recordings policy. Read News & Statements for the latest position and Our Campaigns for campaign background and reported outcomes.

Members’ concerns help shape branch priorities. Raise a proposal with your representative or the committee so it can be considered through the appropriate branch processes. Industrial-action ballots and action require separate UCU authorisation and procedures.

Guidance: UCU: balloting for action

It is a formal vote asking eligible members whether they support taking industrial action, such as a strike or action short of a strike. A successful statutory ballot provides a mandate, subject to the applicable requirements; it does not itself announce action dates. Follow UCU’s instructions for the particular ballot.

No. Voting does not legally oblige you to take part in industrial action. UCU asks members to support action that has been democratically authorised and formally called. If you have concerns about your circumstances, speak to the branch and read the guidance for that dispute.

Guidance: GOV.UK: taking part in industrial action·UCU: taking strike action

Read the latest branch update and contact us to ask how you can help. You could share published information, contribute ideas or volunteer for organising activities. Follow the instructions for any current campaign or ballot.

No. You can attend members’ meetings, raise shared concerns, contribute ideas and help with branch activities. Email the branch to discuss what interests you and how you would like to take part.

Email UCU@lincoln.ac.uk or speak to your representative. Explain the issue, who it affects and any relevant deadline. For a personal workplace matter, contact us directly and ask how to share any sensitive documents.

Email your suggested topic to the branch, outlining the issue and what you would like members to consider. Ask about the agenda deadline and any requirements for a formal motion. Please keep personal casework out of general meeting proposals.

Contact the branch to discuss available roles, nominations and elections. We can explain the current process and help you explore a role that suits your interests. UCU provides training for representatives, so you can also ask about the support available when starting out.

Guidance: UCU rep training

Email the branch with your idea, draft or proposed contribution. Please obtain permission before sharing another person’s photograph or personal information for publication, and keep confidential casework out of material intended for the website.