UCU Industrial Action

Dear colleagues,

I need to update you once more on the intention of the UCU to take further industrial action relating to the dispute about changes to the USS pension scheme.

On 1 March, I outlined the changes to the pension scheme that will take place from 1 April 2022 and explained why the University supported the need for this. Following strike action in December 2021 and in February 2022, the UCU has now formally advised the University of a further five days’ strike action from 23 to 29 March (the original notification was for 28 March to 1 April but this was withdrawn and a new notification issued). 

In addition to these further five strike days, the UCU has also indicated that it will be holding a ballot for yet more industrial action, opening on 16 March and closing on 8 April 2022.

I have always respected the right of colleagues to take industrial action. I am now genuinely concerned, however, that UCU’s national leadership is actively seeking to prolong this dispute, despite the disruption to students, and with there being no real prospect of changing the outcome of the 2020 USS valuation.

The numbers taking part in each action at Reading have steadily declined. During the December strikes fewer than one in three of UCU’s membership took at least one of the three days action, and this declined to one in five in February. I also note that this dispute that has been characterised by the UCU leadership acting with increasingly little reference to its local branches (hence the change in dates noted above), and has failed to garner senior political support.

It was “no” votes that put the most recent ballot over the legally required 50% threshold for it to be valid. I have never previously suggested that UCU members should not vote if they intended to vote “no”.  Given the current circumstances, however, colleagues may now consider not voting to be their most effective course of action if they disagree with the prospect of more industrial action.  

While the overall impact of recent strikes on the University as a whole has been limited, for some students it genuinely interferes with their studies and is a cause of real anxiety. After all the disruption to their learning caused by the pandemic, further disruption to even one student in the lead up to their exams cannot be justified from industrial action that is out of step with the majority of UCU membership.

I am extremely grateful to the significant majority of colleagues who continue to work as normal. As with previous periods of strike action we will continue to do all we reasonably can to minimise disruption where it occurs.

Further information regarding practical matters in respect of strike action will be issued closer to the notified period.

Kind regards,

Robert

Robert Van de Noort

Vice-Chancellor