Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
The views of UCU members at CONEL have been consistently misrepresented by senior management at CCCG.
UCU members at CONEL have continually expressed their opposition to the use of PPVs. We have been vocal in raising our concerns about the non-standardised approach, the lack of feedback and how they have been used as a tool for increased monitoring. PPVs have not only failed in supporting teachers in their professional development, but have been the cause for increased stress and anxiety. Some lecturers have been repeatedly observed. The introduction of PPVs was justified by management as supportive. The reality is that they have been seen to be punitive, with certain individuals being targeted.
Not only have we been repeatedly ignored, but CCCG senior management is now hailing this policy as a success, and are using it as the basis for a proposed observation policy to be applied across the group.
The message that management want to convey is that we are more than are happy with PPVs. It is, therefore, imperative that we send a clear message to our colleagues at CIC and WKC that this is not the situation at CONEL and that we are appalled at being misrepresented in this way. This must stop. Staff at CONEL are anything but happy with the PPV system.
PPVs are not the only example of senior management ignoring the views of our members. As you all know, the return to work date in August gets earlier every year. Management has always stated that we need to open early to ‘get ahead of the competition.’ We would dispute that this has any positive impact on enrolment numbers, but has a detrimental effect on staff with childcare responsibilities. UCU at CONEL has always argued against it. Unfortunately, this is now being rolled out to other colleges in the group.
Staff at CONEL are not happy with PPVs, nor are we happy to return to work in early August every year. We call upon CCCG management to stop misrepresenting the situation at CONEL to the wider group.
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Updates
May 5, 2021
I have spent this week collecting more personal accounts of how these observations are impacting our daily work and mental health. The pattern of being ignored by management is exhausting but these stories confirm exactly why we must continue pushing back against this false narrative.
May 5, 2021
Seeing so many of you echo the frustration I feel every day proves that my colleagues are finally done with being ignored. This momentum shows management that they can no longer pretend we are silent on these punitive observations. We are taking this energy directly to the leadership team.
15 Comments
Everyone expects positive development; but pressurised and forced development route will lead to negative no development.
Management need to look closer to home when checking whether people can adequately do their job! How did they manage to run up a ten million pound deficit? If that was in industry they would be gone! Do they really not trust their staff enough and think people need to be constantly monitored to do their jobs, after all we are all qualified and professional!
The impression is that the college management does not trust our expertise. Very disappointing.
For a number of years, we had an observation policy that has been agreed between the union and the college. Now senior management appear to want to unilaterally impose changes to our terms and conditions without our consent. Given the already stressful situation caused by COVID , PPVs are only adding to mental health problems for staff. SMT may want to implement a 'command & control' management regime, but UCU members at CONEL have the right to challenge management when proposed changes affect our health, families and our learners.
We were unhappy with PPVs ( or 'learning walks') when they were first proposed but we felt forced to accept them. They have turned out to be even worse than we anticipated. Have they improved the quality of teaching? I doubt it. Have they added more stress for teachers and, even, CMs? Most emphatically - yes!
I just want to say that constant PPVs are going to cause further unnecessary stress on teachers.
Teachers need to be empowered as professionals--PPVs do the exact opposite.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
The views of UCU members at CONEL have been consistently misrepresented by senior management at CCCG.
UCU members at CONEL have continually expressed their opposition to the use of PPVs. We have been vocal in raising our concerns about the non-standardised approach, the lack of feedback and how they have been used as a tool for increased monitoring. PPVs have not only failed in supporting teachers in their professional development, but have been the cause for increased stress and anxiety. Some lecturers have been repeatedly observed. The introduction of PPVs was justified by management as supportive. The reality is that they have been seen to be punitive, with certain individuals being targeted.
Not only have we been repeatedly ignored, but CCCG senior management is now hailing this policy as a success, and are using it as the basis for a proposed observation policy to be applied across the group.
The message that management want to convey is that we are more than are happy with PPVs. It is, therefore, imperative that we send a clear message to our colleagues at CIC and WKC that this is not the situation at CONEL and that we are appalled at being misrepresented in this way. This must stop. Staff at CONEL are anything but happy with the PPV system.
PPVs are not the only example of senior management ignoring the views of our members. As you all know, the return to work date in August gets earlier every year. Management has always stated that we need to open early to ‘get ahead of the competition.’ We would dispute that this has any positive impact on enrolment numbers, but has a detrimental effect on staff with childcare responsibilities. UCU at CONEL has always argued against it. Unfortunately, this is now being rolled out to other colleges in the group.
Staff at CONEL are not happy with PPVs, nor are we happy to return to work in early August every year. We call upon CCCG management to stop misrepresenting the situation at CONEL to the wider group.
Updates
May 5, 2021
I have spent this week collecting more personal accounts of how these observations are impacting our daily work and mental health. The pattern of being ignored by management is exhausting but these stories confirm exactly why we must continue pushing back against this false narrative.
May 5, 2021
Seeing so many of you echo the frustration I feel every day proves that my colleagues are finally done with being ignored. This momentum shows management that they can no longer pretend we are silent on these punitive observations. We are taking this energy directly to the leadership team.
15 Comments
We are certainly not happy with PPVs at CONEL. They are not a useful tool and do not improve teaching or learning. Rather they put unnecessary stress on teachers who are already under an extreme amount of pressure trying to fulfil our many duties and responsibilities to our students. Stop misrepresenting our views on PPVs. They were certainly never welcomed by any teacher or CM that I know.
Everyone expects positive development; but pressurised and forced development route will lead to negative no development.
Management need to look closer to home when checking whether people can adequately do their job! How did they manage to run up a ten million pound deficit? If that was in industry they would be gone! Do they really not trust their staff enough and think people need to be constantly monitored to do their jobs, after all we are all qualified and professional!
The impression is that the college management does not trust our expertise. Very disappointing.
For a number of years, we had an observation policy that has been agreed between the union and the college. Now senior management appear to want to unilaterally impose changes to our terms and conditions without our consent. Given the already stressful situation caused by COVID , PPVs are only adding to mental health problems for staff. SMT may want to implement a 'command & control' management regime, but UCU members at CONEL have the right to challenge management when proposed changes affect our health, families and our learners.
We were unhappy with PPVs ( or 'learning walks') when they were first proposed but we felt forced to accept them. They have turned out to be even worse than we anticipated. Have they improved the quality of teaching? I doubt it. Have they added more stress for teachers and, even, CMs? Most emphatically - yes!
I just want to say that constant PPVs are going to cause further unnecessary stress on teachers.
Teachers need to be empowered as professionals--PPVs do the exact opposite.
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We are certainly not happy with PPVs at CONEL. They are not a useful tool and do not improve teaching or learning. Rather they put unnecessary stress on teachers who are already under an extreme amount of pressure trying to fulfil our many duties and responsibilities to our students. Stop misrepresenting our views on PPVs. They were certainly never welcomed by any teacher or CM that I know.