A national ballot has been passed by UCU giving the staff Trade Union mandate to take strike action this year. The ballot is valid for 6 months which means students at City can unfortunately expect strike action to effect teaching and learning, and the wider student experience. Staff who are members will take strike action over pay and pensions.
UCU represents a number of staff at City, including academics and staff from student support services and other central professional services, such as the Library, the Student Centre and others.
Communications from UCU has confirmed that there will be industrial action on:
- w/c 30 Jan: Wed 1 February
- w/c 06 Feb: Thurs 9 & Fri 10 February
- w/c 13 Feb: Tues 14, Wed 15 & Thurs 16 February
- w/c 20 Feb: Tues 21, Wed 22 & Thurs 23 February
- w/c 27 Feb: Mon 27 & Tues 28 February; Wed 1 & Thurs 2 March
- w/c 06 Mar: No action
- w/c 13 Mar: Thurs 16 and Fri 17 March
- w/c 20 Mar: Mon 20, Tues 21 & Wed 22 March
We understand that this is difficult news to take in, with Covid-19 impacting so much of our studies over the past few years further disruption is sad and disappointing.
What can I expect?
As a student at City, some of the things you may experience over the next few months include:
-
Lectures and seminars being cancelled without notice.
-
Subjects being missed due to cancelled teaching.
-
Individual meetings with academics not going ahead.
-
A delay in email replies.
What is the SU doing?
Some of the things we are working with university management and liaising with UCU colleagues to ensure include:
-
That City puts in place effective arrangements to manage the impact of the strikes on both teaching and learning and your student experience. For example, lobbying for missed subjects to not be included in exams or assessment.
-
That City properly communicates with you around any disruption, including how the strikes may affect different groups of students (e.g. International Students).
-
That City ensures you understand what you can reasonably expect vs. what you were originally promised from your course.
-
That essential student services, such as Counselling and Mental Health are still accessible over strike action.
-
That City puts all unpaid staff wages into student funding to support students who are struggling, including international students.
-
That you are not harassed for crossing strike picket lines outside campus.
-
That your views, feelings and thoughts are listened to and relayed to university management.
-
You know how to make a claim for compensation if your teaching and learning is disrupted.
If you have any questions about the upcoming strike action, please email us on studentsunion@city.ac.uk