On Thursday 21 September 2023, the Students' Union Board of Trustees resolved to call a referendum on The SU's support of UCU industrial action. The question wording is: Should The SU support industrial action called by the UCU during the 2023/24 academic year? All current student members will have the opportunity to vote on their preference via online secret ballot. Voting will be open on Wednesday 8 November and close on Wednesday 15 November.
The outcome of the referendum will determine if we, The SU, will support UCU industrial action for the 2023/24 academic year.
In 2022/23 The SU held a referendum in February 2023 which asked students whether The SU should support any industrial action called for the remainder of the 2022/23 academic year. The outcome for this referendum was for The SU not to support, this then covered the Marking and Assessment Boycott which was called later in the semester. The outcome of the referendum has now expired. Whilst no industrial action is currently scheduled by UCU, by holding a referendum at the beginning of the academic year we are giving students the opportunity to set the stance of The SU for the year ahead should any action be called.
What is a Trade Union?
An organisation that employees of a certain profession can join for representation and political bargaining (this is different to an SU - SUs are Charities, not Trade Unions).
What is the UCU?
The UCU, or University and College Union, is a trade union that represents academic and academic-related staff in higher and further education in the UK. It addresses issues such as pay, working conditions, pensions, and equality in academia.
It is crucial for students to educate themselves on the UCU's objectives, the potential implications of their decision, and engage in open dialogues with peers and educators to make an informed choice. A good place to start is the UCU website.
If The SU supports UCU industrial action, and action takes place, The SU could…
|
If The SU does not support UCU industrial action, and action takes place, The SU could…
|
|
Publicly make a statement to students that The SU is in support of said action, referring to the referendum outcome (each time during 2023/24 that this occurs)
|
Publicly make a statement to students that The SU is not in support of said action, referring to the referendum outcome (each time during 2023/24 that this occurs)
|
|
Where industrial action involves striking, SU Officers could go to the picket line to show support
|
Use opportunities such as University Committee meetings to lobby the University and to confirm The SU’s position of not supporting
|
|
Use opportunities such as University Committee meetings to lobby the University and to confirm The SU’s position of support, as per the referendum outcome
|
Write to the University Vice-Chancellor and Senior Management Team stating The SU is not supporting the industrial action, as per the referendum outcome
|
|
Write to the University Vice-Chancellor and Senior Management Team stating The SU’s support
|
Write to UCU informing them of the SU’s stance in not supporting industrial action, referring to the referendum result.
|
|
Work with UCU on their campaigns linked to the relevant action, which may include sharing messages with students
|
|
The SU, regardless of whether we support or not UCU industrial action, will normally always:
-
Through the SU’s independent and confidential Advice and Support Team support individual students, or groups of students, impacted by action to make a complaint,
-
Lobby the University to minimise the impact on students during and post action taking place,
-
Support elected student representatives to gather feedback from students impacted by action,
-
Meet regularly with University Senior Management throughout the action to update on impacts to students,
-
Support any student who wishes to run campaigns either in support of, or not, UCU industrial action through our campaigns support guidance.