Withdrawal of UCU industrial action

This email was sent to all staff by Professor Peter Miskell, Chair of the strikes Contingency Operations Group

Dear colleagues, 

I am writing to inform you that members of the University and College Union (UCU) have voted against continuing industrial action over USS pension reform, meaning a proposed marking and assessment boycott will not now go ahead at Reading.

In a member consultation, the results of which were announced on Monday, UCU members voted to move forward with proposals agreed with employers to prioritise USS pension benefit restoration. In a separate member consultation, members voted against accepting pay and conditions proposals agreed with employers during ACAS talks and to continue with action short of strike in the form of the boycott starting on Thursday 20 April.

Because the Reading UCU branch is currently only in dispute with the University over pension reform – one of only five in this position – members at the University will not participate in the action short of strike this summer term.

UCU members voted last month in a national ballot to extend their mandate for industrial action in both disputes by another six months, but no further strike dates are planned at this time.

I have been working with colleagues on contingency plans that would have kept any impact on staff and students arising fromthe boycott to a minimum. Nevertheless, it is a great relief that the summer term can now continue without this added disruption.

Thank you to all colleagues, including UCU members, who have supported efforts to mitigate the disruption caused by industrial action over the past few months. I am grateful to colleagues for remaining professional and respectful of different viewpoints throughout this dispute.

With best wishes,

Peter Miskell
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience)