UCU strike dates confirmed

The following message has been shared with all staff by Professor Peter Miskell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience)

Dear colleagues,

The University and College Union (UCU) has this week announced the full list of 18 dates for industrial action taking place in February and March 2023, in relation to pay and pension reform. 

The University has been notified that these strike days are:

• Wednesday 1 February
• Thursday 9 February
• Friday 10 February
• Tuesday 14 February
• Wednesday 15 February
• Thursday 16 February
• Tuesday 21 February
• Wednesday 22 February
• Thursday 23 February
• Monday 27 February
• Tuesday 28 February
• Wednesday 1 March
• Thursday 2 March
• Thursday 16 March
• Friday 17 March
• Monday 20 March
• Tuesday 21 March
• Wednesday 22 March

Action Short of Strike (ASOS) previously announced to commence on 23 November 2022 is ongoing.

The scale of this action is clearly going to have an impact on our students at an important time of year for their studies, as well as on our staff. This makes the announcement extremely disappointing. Nevertheless, we are working to mitigate this impact.

Information for staff

The dispute between the University and UCU is only in relation to pensions, due to the local agreement in place at Reading on pay.

Further information and copies of previous communications related to the industrial action are available on the Staff Portal along with updated FAQs. 

Colleagues participating in any of the strike days are required to notify the University after each period of action, using an online  that will be circulated in the coming days. 

Where the ASOS is limited to working to contract we will monitor the impact of this but there will be no further action required.  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. 

Detailed information on the steps colleagues need to take if participating in industrial action will be provided by email and on the Staff Portal prior to 1 February and following each period of strike action.

Minimising impact on students 

While the University acknowledges the right to take part in industrial action, we are also committed to protecting the quality and value of our students’ learning experience. We will therefore be taking reasonable and appropriate steps to prevent students being adversely affected by the strike action. 

Students are being contacted with information regarding the dates of strike action, and how we will seek to minimise the impact on their studies, including how they can report cancelled teaching sessions.

The student email text and FAQs for students will shortly be available on the Essentials web pages. 

If you have any further questions or concerns then please contact Claire Rolstone, Interim Director of HR, on c.rolstone@reading.ac.uk. 

Regards

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