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Strike Action October 2013

Colleagues will be aware that UCU, UNISON and UNITE balloted its members in relation to the employers final pay offer of 1% over the summer period.

The ballots resulted in a mandate for a day of strike action by all three unions on Thursday 31 October 2013. The UCU are also encouraging its members to take action short of a strike (ASOS) from Friday 1 November 2013 in the form of working to contract.

As we potentially enter a period of sustained industrial action, we would like to remind colleagues of the University’s position with regard to the pay implications of participating in any such action, namely that the University is not obliged to pay staff who undertake strike action. Neither is the University obliged to accept partial performance of the contract of employment where staff are engaging in action short of a strike. Accordingly, the University is legally entitled to withhold pay in such circumstances and, should this come to pass, will do so.

Download the University’s process for self declaration and statement on pay deductions (Word Document)

Self-declarations forms should be sent to the payroll department, in line with the guidance no later than midnight on 29 October 2013.

As in past such strikes the University intends to operate as normally as possible on that day. Heads of Departments will, as ever, use their common sense to respond to any particular issues that arise on the day so as to minimise any adverse impact on students.

Our local relations with all of our campus Trade Unions remain positive and even as we enter what may be a challenging period, it is our view that our collegial approach helps us in such times of uncertainty.

Ken Sloan
Registrar
Professor Stuart Croft
Provost