UCU members voted to take industrial action after recently participating in two separate ballots: pay & working conditions, and cuts to pensions.
In the pay and working condition ballot, the yes vote for strike action was 81.1% and the turnout was 57.8%. In the pension ballot, the yes vote for strike action was 84.9% and the turnout was 60.2%. Staff also voted yes overwhelmingly for action short of strike in both ballots.
What is demanded?
In the pay and conditions ballot, the union’s demands include a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis. Staff were offered just a 3% pay rise this year whilst a third of academic staff are on some form of temporary contract.
In the pension ballot, UCU is demanding employers revoke the 35% cut they made earlier this year to the future guaranteed retirement income of the average member.
What action is taking place?
The full strike dates are:
Thursday 24 November
Friday 25 November
Wednesday 30 November.
Staff began industrial action short of strike action from Wednesday 23 November onwards and until further notice at institutions in England, Wales and Scotland.
Action short of a strike consists of the following until further notice:
- working to contract
- 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
- not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action
- not undertaking any voluntary activities
Please note that the higher education committee (HEC) has not yet called for a marking and assessment boycott as part of action short of a strike.
Oxford Pickets
Information on where you can come and support our picket lines is available here
Ox 