What’s all this about, then?
UCU are currently in a dispute with our employers nationally over two linked sets of issues: pay and conditions (also known as Four Fights) and pensions (cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, or USS). As the University of Greenwich is not a member of the USS pension scheme, we are only involved in the pay and conditions dispute. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
UCU took strike action in November 2022 and February-March 2023, and in April 2023 we renewed our historic mandate to all-sector industrial action. Most importantly, the union has notified employers of a Marking and Assessment Boycott to begin on 20th April – click here for FAQs specific to the marking and assessment boycott.
On strike days, union members withdraw our labour and instead form a ‘picket line’ at entrances to our workplace, asking colleagues and students not to cross it.
We are also taking Action Short of a Strike (ASOS), also known as working to contract, until otherwise advised.
What’s Action Short of a Strike?
Action Short of a Strike simply means doing the work that is in your contract and nothing more. It includes:
- Not covering for absent colleagues (unless such cover is contractually required).
- 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.
- Not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action
- Not undertaking any voluntary activities (like Open Days, Athena Swan committees), or extracurricular activities, unless contractually obliged.
Can I strike if I’m not in UCU?
If you join a strike despite not being a union member, as long as you are a member of staff who would be affected by negotiations (e.g. a university employee) you cannot be dismissed for having gone on strike. However, you are not eligible for the Fighting Fund (see below) or any other support from the union. You will also not be protected by the union in the event of any bullying or harassment by managers, or any other issues – so we urge you to join UCU now.
I’m a migrant worker/not a UK citizen, can I still strike & what are the risks?
This depends heavily on your individual situation, so it’s best to consult the union’s information page on Migrant Workers and Taking Industrial Action to make sure you are doing what is right for you.
Do I have to tell my manager in advance that I’m striking?
No! You do not have to warn your manager, or anyone, that you are going on strike. Some people do warn students to save them a journey, and use it as an opportunity to explain why they’re striking. Students often don’t know why we’re striking or that we lose pay while on strike, for example.
However, we advise that you do not warn managers that you will strike as this allows them to reorganise work: the aim of a strike is to disrupt the work of the university by withdrawing our labour.
How much pay will I lose?
This will depend on a few individual things. However, you can use a calculation made by Sarah Joss on Twitter, multiplying your monthly take-home pay by 12 and then dividing that number by 365 to get a daily deduction. Please bear in mind we cannot provide accurate predictions of strike deductions as the union committee is not qualified to calculate these things for individuals who may have varying situations with regard to tax, tax credits and other financial issues.
I’ve lost pay, will the union recompense me?
You can apply to the Fighting Fund for compensation for lost pay, with a cap of 11 days. Compensation will depend on your current salary:
For those earning under £30,000 gross per annum you can claim up to £75 per day for the second and subsequent days of strike action until 11 days.
For those earning over £30,000 gross per annum you can claim up to £50 per day for the second and subsequent days of strike action up to 11 days.
To claim from the Fighting Fund you must:
- be paying subscriptions at the correct rate (if any subscription is payable);
- have participated in official strike action for which officers have agreed to make
funds available; - provide evidence of deduction from salary or loss of earnings for strike action.
How do I claim from the Fighting Fund?
You go to the Fighting Fund tab on the UCU website , login with your details and follow the process, entering your details including bank account details. You will be asked for evidence; the best evidence is a payslip showing strike deductions.
You can find more information about the Fighting Fund under HE Guidance (despite not being mentioned, November 2022 disputes should be covered).
I’m a higher paid staff member, can I donate to help others?
Yes! Our branch maintains a local Fighting Fund which we use only for helping members who are in need due to lost pay from strikes. If you would like to donate to support the branch’s Fighting Fund, please use the following details:
UCU Greenwich
Sort code: 60-83-01 (Unity Trust Bank)
Account number: 2046 7830
For any queries about this, please email uogucu@gmail.com.
What should I bring to the picket line?
Most important: wrap up warm, as well as waterproof if you can manage it – picket lines are outdoors and at this time of year, that means cold and often wet. Heated hand warmers are an option, walking boots are useful (to keep your feet warm and dry), hats and gloves to cover extremities – and pockets so you can get your phone and tweet us (@ucugreenwich) with your picket line photos!
We provide placards, but feel free to bring your own: you may also want to bring snacks and a flask of something hot (or of course purchase a hot drink from around where you’re picketing). There aren’t usually any seats, so if you’ll need to sit down it’s best to bring a portable chair/stool – and of course if you can only come for a short while we’d still love to see you.
Portable battery packs for charging your phone may also be useful, and if you have a pet who’d be happy meeting people please do bring them too!
I can’t come to the picket line – can I help instead?
Great question and yes, there are lots of things you can do!
- Digital picketing: on strike days, don’t post on social media about work, but instead amplify the strike hashtag (#ucuRISING# and tweet us at @ucugreenwich and amplify our posts by e.g. retweeting.
- Talk to colleagues: if you have non-striking colleagues, put on an out-of-office reply explaining why you’re striking and take five minutes to contact a colleague about why you won’t be in work (or, if after a strike, why you weren’t in work). A lot of colleagues aren’t aware of the union and may appreciate the chance to have a discussion about how they can get involved.
- Write to your local MP and ask them to support the strikes/UCU’s campaign: Please see this UCU page on contacting your MP for more details. This is a great activity to do on a strike day, if you have the energy.
- Photograph your pet in support of the strike, ideally in UCU colours, and tweet us @ucugreenwich with the hashtag #ucuRISING.
- Compose a chant or song in relation to the theme (e.g. last year we sang ‘VC’ to the tune of ‘Jolene’) and – if you can – perform it!
- Talk to your students about why you are on strike. Students may not know why we are on strike, what that involves, what the issues are that UCU is fighting – so take the time to communicate with them.
- Rest! Rest can be a radical act in this age of overwork – don’t be tempted to use a strike day to ‘catch up’ on work or related things such as research.
What should I put in my out-of-office message or on the VLE?
Strike days
If you would like to have an out-of-office autoreply on during strike days, you should use it to explain why you have gone on strike. UCU’s website has some useful guidance on what to put in an out-of-office message but you can and should customise it to your own situation.
UCU’s template is as follows:
‘I am currently unavailable and taking part in the University and College Union (UCU) strike action to defend our right to fair pay, secure contracts and equality at work.
Please redirect your query to university management asking them to listen to staff concerns.’
In this you could include:
- A link to the UCU Rising information for students
- A link to the UCU Rising FAQs (including why staff are striking)
- A link to the NUS VP Chloe Field explaining why the NUS supports the UCU in their strike action
- Details about any related action in your discipline: for example, the RCN strikes if you work in nursing, or the NEU action if you work in education.
- An invitation to contact you or even visit the picket line if they have any questions.
Non-strike days: action short of a strike
It is up to you if you would like to have an out of office reply during ASOS. Many do not, as we are simply working to contract, so this should not be out of the ordinary. However, if you would like to, UCU suggest the following wording:
‘Please note that I am currently taking action short of a strike as part of the University and College Union (UCU) industrial action to defend our right to fair pay, secure contracts and equality at work.
Response times may be slower for the duration of the dispute, especially outside of normal working hours.
Please support university staff by writing to university management asking them to listen to staff concerns.’
You could add in some of the elements above, or an email address such as wellbeing@greenwich.ac.uk for students to contact if they have an urgent problem that is affecting their wellbeing.
Is it crossing the picket line if I teach online?
YES! The digital picket line is as important as the physical one. Teaching online, answering email, going to meetings online: none of this should be happening on a strike day.
I have another question – can you answer it?
Almost certainly! Please enter your question here and we will do our best to update this page but also contact you, if you would like (you have the option to enter an email).