Since we informed you about the outcomes of the recent trade union ballots, the University has received formal notice from the University and College Union (UCU) of their intent to take industrial action over the national issues of pay and/or pension* reform.
We know that all of our colleagues care deeply about the education of our students and the wider activities of our University. Our priority at all times is to provide a world-class education for our students and we will work to minimise any impact this action may have on members of our community.
When will the planned action take place?
The planned action, in the form of Action Short of a Strike (ASOS), will start on Monday 23 May 2022 and be continuous until no later than Friday 7 October, unless advised otherwise by UCU. The proposed action is intended to take place across 43 UK universities.
ASOS will consist of UCU members:
- Only working their contracted hours and duties and not volunteering to do more;
- Not rescheduling classes and lectures cancelled due to strike action;
- Not covering for absent colleagues;
- Removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action; and
- Boycotting all marking and assessment processes.
Partial performance and withholding of pay
Where staff participate in ASOS and do not complete their full contractual duties, this will be considered partial performance.
It is the University’s policy not to accept partial performance. To provide clarity it has set out which of UCU’s listed activities it considers to be contractual in the ‘Action Short of Strike Guidance’. The University reserves the right to withhold up to 100% of pay for partial performance and to continue to withhold pay until the member of staff resumes their contractual duties in full.
A fair and consistent process will be put in place, overseen at local level, to accurately capture if a member of staff is participating in ASOS and whether or not they have performed their contractual duties.
Further information and guidance on industrial action, including partial performance and withholding pay, is set out on the ‘Industrial Action SharePoint pages’.
We will continue to update our community via SUSSED News and locally cascaded briefings. Information for staff and students will be on our Industrial Action SharePoint site, including FAQs, which we will continue to update as the situation evolves.
