Many staff at the University of Dundee are part of the University and College Union (UCU). The UCU represents members of higher education, including academic staff like lecturers and teaching staff, and non-academic staff like librarians, technicians, and administrators.
Members of the UCU are asking their vice-chancellors to enter negotiations with the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) to improve their working conditions, short-term contracts, race, gender and disability pay gaps.
“Staff teaching conditions are students’ learning conditions, and we must fight together for a fairer, healthier education system for everyone who works and studies.”
“The struggles we face as students are inextricably linked to the reasons that staff are striking. High rents, astronomical international student fees, and cuts to maintenance support have happened for the same reasons that staff are suffering under huge workloads – the failed marketisation of the sector which has put profit above the staff and student well-being.” -The NUS (National Union of Students) UK Officer Team, including the Presidents of NUS Scotland, NUS Wales and NUS-USI.
“UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work.” -Jo Grady, UCU general secretary
You may have heard that the UCU announced that more than 70,000 staff across 150 Universities in the UK are going on Industrial action. This decision was made following the national historic ballot where there was majority support for a “yes” vote, for all UCU members to take strike action*. This was following the rejection of the UCEA pay offer worth between 4-7 per cent **. The UCU is “demanding a meaningful pay rise” to help alleviate the pressures with the cost-of-living crisis as well as action the end of use of insecure contracts, claiming a third of academic staff are on temporary contracts.
“We hope that our proposals will be recognised as a genuine attempt by employers to address the cost of living pressures. UCU members do not want to take strike action that targets students. Employers do not want to deduct pay in response to such strike action that targets students. Now it is the time to talk.”
“But UCU needs to provide its members with a realistic and fair assessment of what is achievable before giving them the chance to accept or refuse the highest HE pay offer made in nearly 20 years.” -Mr Raj Jethwa, UCEA Chief-Executive.
On 12/01/2023, the University and Colleges Union (UCU), which represents academic and some technical staff across UK universities, announced 18 days of strike action across February and March as well as a marking and assessment boycott starting in April. The exact dates of the strike will be confirmed shortly before our January SRC meeting. This is part of a long-running dispute starting in 2018 over multiple issues including pay, workload, gender and racial pay gaps, and pension cuts. The current strike is on pay and conditions and pensions cuts. UCU struck for 3 days in the last term. It struck for 13 days in 2021/2. Furthermore, Action Short of Strike (ASOS) has been active since 23rd November, which calls on staff to strictly work to contract, not cover or reschedule for strike days and not undertake voluntary activities.
> Week 1 – Wednesday 1 February
> Week 2 – Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February
> Week 3 – Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February [strike halted]
> Week 4 – Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February [strike halted]
> Week 5 – Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 March
[No action week commencing Monday 6 March]
> Week 6 – Wednesday 15 [additional day], Thursday 16 and Friday 17 March
> Week 7 – Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March
It’s up to you, unless you hear otherwise, assume your classes are going ahead and you should attend teaching sessions as normal. However, you may want to stand in solidarity with your lecturers and abstain from attending your teaching. UCU members are not obligated to disclose their intentions on the days of industrial action, and they may not commit to striking each day. However, the University has the right to ask all teaching staff if they intend to participate in strike action. Disclosure will be treated with confidence and solely to mitigate the impact of the strike action on students.
Therefore, classes and lectures could be cancelled, or labs, workshops, or library spaces could be closed or have reduced capacity.
Students may be impacted by the strike action in many different ways. In light of the significant, combined, impact of these factors the University will be taking a ‘no detriment’ approach, used during the pandemic, when confirming grades and degree outcomes. To find out more information please visit: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/guides/no-detriment-what-does-it-mean
How does the university intend to spend the pay that’s been withheld from staff who participate in the strikes?
Blair Grubb, VP of (education) indicated at the December 2022 SRC that this was yet to be decided. However, in the past deducted staff pay had been directed to the discretionary fund at the request of the striking staff.
The scale of the strike action is unprecedented; therefore, it is unclear how the strike action will affect the students. However, during the November ’22 strikes, a spokesperson for Dundee University said:
“We will not know the impact until the days of the strike action, but we will do everything we can to mitigate any impact on students.
“The majority of activity across the university will most likely continue as normal.”
The University recognises that is has the right, and duty to take steps to minimise disruption to students. While also ensuring that staff who are not impacted by the dispute (and those who do not wish to strike) can go about their normal work. Stating that contingency plans are in place, with a focus on minimising the disruption of students, their learning and campus experience.
If classes are dismissed due to the strike action, then those classes will be dismissed in the calculation of your attendance record. Therefore, if you hold a Tier 4 visa your status will not be affected by any industrial action.
It is up to you. Previously there have been picket lines outside the Tower building, you may see UCU members protesting outside university buildings. Staff may ask you not to cross their picket line, but they are not allowed to prevent you from entering buildings or going about your day as normal.
Contingency plans are in place, with a focus on minimising the disruption of students, their learning and campus experience. For example, the reintroduction of the no-detriment policy.
The University of Dundee guidance -www.dundee.ac.uk/student-services
DUSA's Advice and Support team- www.dusa.co.uk/advice
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