Upcoming strike action: How it may affect you
17 Nov 2022
Guidance for staff regarding upcoming industrial action
Last week we received confirmation from the University and College Union (UCU) that they will be taking industrial action over two disputes in relation to pay and working conditions* and the USS pension. The University remains disappointed with the UCU’s decision and will be taking active steps during this period to ensure minimal disruption to our staff and students.
We understand how important pay, employment conditions, and pensions are to colleagues – we take their views and concerns very seriously. Pay and the USS pension agreements are negotiated nationally, by UCEA and UUK respectively. As with all HEIs, we input into these discussions and decisions.
We also appreciate the difficult and challenging times in which we are living, and are taking active steps to support both our staff and our students.
In advance of the industrial action, please find some further information below for colleagues.
Dates of industrial action:
- Strike action: Thursday 24, Friday 25, and Wednesday, 30 November 2022
- Action short of strike: Commencing on Wednesday, 23 November 2022 – 20 April 2023
Guidance for staff related to strike action
The University trusts all employees to have informed their line manager that they have taken strike action immediately after they have returned to work following each period of strike and complete the relevant forms. The forms are:
- Participation in Strike Action Form: staff should complete this as soon as possible and before the deadlines outlined in our Guidance on Industrial Acton
- Participation in Action short of a strike form: staff should complete this after each period of ASOS and before the deadlines outlined in our Guidance on Industrial Action
The documents below include further information on reporting procedures, deductions from pay, action short of a strike, and picket lines.
Communication with students
We have informed students about the upcoming industrial action and advised that the University will remain open, and our aim is for activities and facilities to run as close to a normal service as possible. We have advised that there may be an impact on their teaching or research supervision, both on strike days and (to a lesser extent) during the action short of a strike.
We will do everything we can to minimise any impact of the strike action, and will keep you updated with any further developments or information as we receive it
Further information
*By ‘working conditions’, UCU are referring to pay gaps, workloads, incidence of fixed terms contracts and “casual” employment arrangements.