UCU vote in favour of industrial action

This message from Vice-Chancellor Robert Van de Noort has been sent to all colleagues at the University

Dear colleagues,

Following the previously announced UCU ballot arising from proposed changes to the USS pension scheme, the UCU has notified us that the ballot met the turnout threshold and the vote was 61.6%  in favour of strike action and 75.7%  Action Short Of Strike (ASOS).

We do not yet have a formal notice of when and for what period this action will take place, but we understand that the UCU will decide these points on Friday 12 November. The University must receive at least 14 days’ notice of the commencement of any action. We will provide a further update when this is received, along with important information for colleagues who intend to take part.

While we do not yet know timing, the UCU has advised that ASOS will be continuous and consist of:

• working to contract
• not covering for absent colleagues
• removing uploaded materials related to and/or not sharing materials related to lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action
• not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action
• not undertaking any voluntary activities, and
• undertaking a marking and assessment boycott.

Where the ASOS is limited to working to contract we will monitor this, but there will be no further action. However, colleagues are expected to perform their contractual duties in full. The University does not accept partial performance and reserves the right to make deductions from pay where breaches of contract occur.

Although I recognise the significance of pension reform to colleagues and that decisions to undertake industrial action are not taken lightly, I am extremely disappointed by this result, particularly given the ongoing disruptions and workload already caused by COVID-19.  I am committed to minimising disruption for students and colleagues as far as we reasonably can.

We have contacted all students by email to notify them of the action planned by UCU and to provide some reassurance about the mitigation we will put in place to minimise the impact on their studies.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Director of Human Resources, John Brady, or the HR Partner for your area.

Kind regards,

Robert