UCU Strike Update and FAQ
Updated December 2023
UCU
As per the information below, the last UCU ballot lasted a further six months, however, the latest UCU ballot (3 November) failed to reach the legal threshold for a further mandate for Industrial Action. Therefore, there will be no further industrial action for the foreseeable future.
Important to note is that we have open and frequent communication with UCU and will endeavor to keep students informed if and when the situation may change.
UNISON
Following two national days of strike action on 2 and 3 October 2023, the University of Winchester UNISON members are not re-balloting for further strike action over the 2023-24 pay uplift, as per their website: Higher Education Pay 2023-24 | UNISON National.
Whilst there is limited information available, please do check back in here frequently as we aim to update this page as soon as information is passed onto us.
If students have any questions or concerns regarding previous strike action or want to express any feedback or thoughts, they can do so by emailing Charlotte.Baker@winchester.ac.uk (Student Union President).
Updated 26th September 2023
At Winchester Student Union, we acknowledge the anxiety and concern regarding ongoing UCU’s industrial action and how this will affect your experience. To keep you updated with what’s going on, we have released an updated UCU Strike Information & FAQ page below.
If you need any advice or support, please contact our Advice Centre here: Advice Centre @ Winchester Student Union (winchesterstudents.co.uk)
In the meantime, the Student Union is committed to working with both the University and UCU to try and reduce the impact on your university experience.
As many of you will be aware, UCU (University and Colleges Union) have been undertaking industrial action over pay and other working conditions over the past year.
UCU originally had a mandate from members for industrial action for six months. However, UCU has recently re-balloted to extend this mandate for a further six months, which has been approved by members. This means, for now, industrial action will continue until UCU feel their demands have been sufficiently met. Such industrial action could present itself in the way of strikes or even harsher/distruptive measure such as an assessment and marking boycott.
We thought it would be beneficial to let you know about what striking means, who UCU are, and what this will mean for you as a student at the University of Winchester.
Who are UCU?
The University and College Union (UCU) represents over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians, technicians, professional staff and postgraduates working within learning institutions such as universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations, across the UK. Not every staff member in the above institutions is part of UCU. Independently, staff can elect to join the UCU.
Is there a Winchester branch of UCU?
Yes, there is. Around 222 members of staff at the University of Winchester are members of UCU. Here at Winchester Student Union, we meet regularly with UCU and will remain in communication with them throughout the planned strike action. The Winchester UCU Branch have their own independent social media.
What is the difference between local/national action?
Local action is driven by a ballot where the local branch of UCU votes independently for matters pertaining to their specific university, whereas national ballots are broader with a blanket response directing action for all UCU branches. Local branches can choose to ballot members at any point, independently from other branches, whereas National ballots must be called in collaboration with all branches. Strike action from UCU was decided nationally. Extending the industrial action mandate, including an assessment & marking boycott, was also balloted nationally.
What do the strikes mean?
Earlier this month, the National UCU Trade Union called off the previous assessment and marking boycott and at the same tim annouced a week of strike action commencing from the 25th - 29th September in relation to the ongoing 2023/24 joint higher education trade union national claim dispute. Following a poll at a local level this has been called off by the Winchester UCU branch. This will allow UCU and the University to take forward partnership working. Both remin in dispute but are pleased that their has been a reduction in the potential distruption for students.
UCU members also will be continuing Action Short of Strike (ASOS*) throughout the extended mandate. For full details of why they are striking look on the UCU website, but below are key points that reflect the balloted strike action:
- Striking over pay (members want a 12% pay settlement – currently a 5 to 8% offer has been made).
- Want to close the gender, ethnic and disability pay gaps.
- Want an agreed framework to eliminate precarious employment contracts (casual contracts).
- Want excessive workloads addressed, as well as unpaid work.
- Want standard weekly full-time employment to be 35 hrs.
- Want cuts to pension schemes revoked and to ensure that all valuations of financial health to be evidence based.
*ASOS – this includes working to contract only, removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be cancelled due to strike action, not rescheduling lectures/classes cancelled due to strike action, not undertaking any voluntary activities, and not covering for absent colleagues.
What is an assessment and marking boycott?
According to UCU, a marking and assessment boycott covers all marking and assessment processes that contribute to summative assessment decisions for students/learners, whether final (i.e. graduation/completion) or interim (i.e. progression decisions). Therefore, during a period of boycott students would not receive feedback or results relating to submitted work at any level. UCU have provided a full and detailed FAQ about marking boycotts here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/MAboycottFAQs
What does this mean for staff?
If further strike days are announced, on those days staff who are striking will be on picket lines. You may be told prior to the strikes whether classes are cancelled or if other University services are affected, or you may find out on the day. Staff do not have to inform you if they are striking. For those striking, this is taking an unpaid day away from teaching or their services role.
What does that mean for students?
If further strike days are announced you should still plan to attend your classes as the University are likely to put plans in place to cover any missing staff; however, you should be aware that class cancellations may occur at short notice. UCU have outlined that if your learning is affected it will not be rescheduled and resources will not be put online. The University assures us they will do all they can to minimise the impact to your teaching. The same is true to ensure you are not adversely affected by the marking and assessment boycott, and the University must put in measures to ensure this. The Student Union have asked that any staff salary saving made from staff striking is allocated to hardship funding for students.
Can I ask who is involved?
As stated, staff do not have to say whether they are undertaking industrial action, but they may choose to inform you. You are within your rights to ask if you, as a student, will be affected, but you may not receive an answer. We will be asking UCU to be as mindful and practicable about informing students ahead of time if they will be affected by strike or other action.
What is a picket line? Will I be able to access campus?
A picket line is a boundary established by staff who are on strike; at Winchester if picket lines are present, they are usually on Sparkford Road outside the main University entrance (near Reception), outside Medecroft, as well as up at West Downs. A picket line is typically formed of a number of staff standing outside the entrances to campus, often holding signs and/or flags. They may ask staff and students not to cross the picket line in solidarity with the strike.
It is your personal choice as to whether you want to cross a picket line, staff cannot stop you from entering campus or campus buildings, and they are required to leave a gap big enough for you to walk through. You may wish to speak to staff on a picket line to find out more about why they are striking, and you may also choose to not cross the picket line, however, if you would rather just walk past you will be able do so.
What is the Student Union’s stance on this?
The Student Union is here to represent our student body, and to ensure their interests are met. We have arranged, and will continue to arrange, meetings with UCU and University Executive Leadership to discuss all proposed action further. Throughout the process, our priority is always what is best for our students, and we will continue to petition all parties to resolve the disputes without negatively impacting our members.
Between Monday 30th January and Monday 6th February, we held a referendum (or all student vote) in relation to the proposed UCU strike action.
Students were asked if they agreed or disagreed that Winchester Student Union should support the UCU in their current proposed strike action.
For this referendum to be quorate, 600 Student Members needed to cast their vote whilst the referendum was open; this represents 8% of the eligible student body in line with the requirements of our constitution.
The result of this referendum is:
Q. Should Winchester Student Union support the proposed strike action called by the UCU (18 days of strikes over February & March 2023)?
Total Votes: 395
Yes: 240
No: 142
Abstain: 13
Due to less than 600 students voting, the referendum did not meet quoracy and therefore does not provide a valid student mandate in itself. As such, the votes that were cast (5% of valid student members) have been considered by the Student Union’s Elected Officers to inform a collective decision.
The Executive Committee through the process of a extraordinary meeting have collectively decided that Winchester Student Union stands in support of the proposed action being undertaken by UCU, taking into account feedback received from the student referendum. Winchester Student Union appreciates that teaching conditions are intrinsically linked to students learning conditions and understand that undergoing strike action is never an easy decision to take. We acknowledge that this proposed action will have an impact students learning and therefore call on all parties to make every effort to reduce impact and come together to resolve this national dispute.
The Student Union also supported UCU in their Assessment and Marking Boycott.
We acknowledge the impact this action will have on students both physically and mentally. However, we also acknowledge that students and staff are linked by the very partnership that makes your university experience what it is. Staff teaching conditions are intrinsically linked to students learning conditions and this must always be our priority as an organisation to put our members needs first. Although this is a national issue and isn’t at a local level, we call for all parties at a national level to come to a resolution. We will continue to work with UCU and the University to mitigate as much impact as we can for you our students. Please get in contact with our Advice Centre if you need support. We can offer academic support, such as complaints as well as wellbeing, housing and money.
If students have any questions or concerns on the outcome of this referendum or want to express any feedback or thoughts on the proposed UCU action they can do so by emailing Charlotte.Baker@winchester.ac.uk (Student Union President).
Winchester Student Union services such as shops, laundry and bar spaces should not be affected by this industrial action.
I need support, can you help?
If you need further support you can contact our Advice Centre via our website. The Student Union Advice Centre is independent from the University and is able to support you through the process of making a complaint if you feel your studies have been significantly affected by the strike action.
For additional wellbeing support, please find our Useful Contacts list on our Advice Centre page.
If you have any questions, please do contact student.union@winchester.ac.uk.
