Upcoming industrial action by University and College Union (UCU) members
19 Feb 2018
UCU has announced fourteen days of industrial action for UCU members commencing this week with a series of strike days
The strike days are:
- Week one: Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February (two days)
- Week two: Monday 26, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 February (three days)
- Week three: Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 March (four days)
- Week four: Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 March (five days).
In seeking to manage this potentially difficult situation in a spirit of collegiality, the University will respect the integrity and professionalism of all our staff by deeming a member of staff to be engaged in industrial action only by asking them and trusting them to inform their line manager that they have taken such action. If line managers are themselves taking industrial action then they should inform their senior manager at the earliest opportunity.
The University will expect all members of staff who do not indicate to their line manager that they have taken industrial action to discharge all their normal responsibilities as employees.
Picket Lines
It is anticipated that there will be some picket lines on each of the strike days. Staff can be reassured that the purpose of any picket line is to pass on information in a peaceful manner about the reason for the strike action. A picket line should be comprised of a maximum of six pickets and we expect all pickets to behave in a respectful way to their colleagues who are attending work.
Refusal or failure to cross a picket line is not an acceptable reason for absence from duty and all staff who fail to report for work will have their pay deducted on the basis described below accordingly.
Please note that this dispute is by the UCU as the other campus trade unions are not involved and so only UCU members are legally covered by the strike action. Further updates on industrial action will be issued as soon as information is available.
Further information
If you have any questions concerning this, please do not hesitate to contact: