Joint Negotiating and Consultative Committee

1. The Committee shall be a forum for consultation, collective bargaining and negotiation on matters of employment at the University and will deal with employment matters which affect all or the majority of staff, or matters of joint concern and when appropriate, shall make recommendations to the Human Resources Committee.
2. The JNCC shall provide a formal means of resolving collective disputes where informal channels have proved unsuccessful or ineffective, as agreed in the Disputes Procedure.
3. Individual staff cases shall be dealt with through the established procedures and shall be considered by the JNCC only when there are matters of general principle raised by them, which need to be negotiated.
4. Arrangements for the JNCC will not detract from the sole negotiating rights that each union currently enjoys for designated staff groups.
5. Matters which are inappropriate for joint negotiation and consultation shall be referred to the relevant separate negotiating Sub-committee (ARSNC, TSNS or CMSC). Minutes will be reported to the JNCC for information).
6. The Committee shall also have the responsibility of ensuring the best possible relationship between 'employer' and 'employee' in accordance with the relevant ACAS Codes of Practice.
7. The Committee report to Council and Senate, via the Human Resources Committee.

Meetings

1. The Committee shall ordinarily meet not less than six times a year.
2. Any member may request a special meeting of the Committee. The meeting shall be held within twenty-eight working days of such a request.
3. Meetings may be adjourned by agreement for not longer than fourteen working days.  During a meeting any party may withdraw to consult separately.
4. Four members from the union side, plus two members of the University management and a chair, shall constitute a quorum. An inquorate meeting shall be suspended and reconvened within fourteen days.
5. The agenda-setting will be influenced by the HR Implementation Plan which will outline priorities each year. Matters for the agenda shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary not later than twenty working days before a Committee meeting.

Minutes

1. The minutes of all meetings shall be agreed by the Chair before circulation and subject to the formal approval of the Committee at its next meeting.
2. For each negotiated item, the minutes shall record either an agreement by both sides (including the date when the agreement will take effect, subject to approval by HRC) or a failure to agree, including any recommendations for the resolution of such disagreement.
3. A copy of the approved minutes will be posted on the HR web pages.