IMPORTANT: UCU industrial action starts on Thursday 22 February. Many classes will go ahead as normal on strike days and you should not assume your classes will be cancelled. Please read the message and the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information... [SNIP]
UCU has also given notice of continuous action short of strike starting on 22 February. This action includes working to contract; not covering for absent colleagues; not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action; and not undertaking any voluntary activities. The University expects staff who are at work, including those taking action short of strike, to fulfil their contractual obligations in full.
Naturally, students will be concerned about the potential impact of industrial action on their studies. However, the strike will not affect all staff and there will be teaching on strike days, so you should not assume that your classes will be cancelled. While some level of disruption is likely, it will probably vary across the University and we are taking all reasonable steps we can to ensure that it is kept to a minimum. If your lecturers have not advised you in advance that teaching will be cancelled, you should go to your classes as normal. If teaching does not take place, please report it to us using the online ‘cancelled classes form’ as explained below. We also anticipate that services such as the Library and Support Centres should be operating as normal.
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Q: What is the University doing to mitigate the impact of strike action?
A: UCU members are exercising their lawful right to take industrial action, following a ballot of members. We are taking all reasonable steps to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum, but we are subject to some legal restrictions limiting the action we can take. As union members are not obliged to tell us in advance if they plan to strike, combined with the action short of strike outlined above, taking steps in advance to mitigate the impact on our day-to-day activities can be difficult; however, as set out below, we are putting in place a number of measures to minimise disruption so far as it is possible for us to do.
It is important to note that many University employees will not participate in strike action, meaning many classes will go ahead as normal on strike days. In addition, those participating in strike action are not likely to be employed evenly across the academic schools and administrative functions – there may be some schools and departments where the impact is minimal or even non-existent. As far as possible, all University facilities and services will be open and operating as normal.
We are very aware of the potential impact of the strikes on our students, particularly those who are completing their studies with us this academic year – and we are putting in place special mechanisms, described below, in order to do everything reasonable to ensure that students’ studies and grades are not negatively impacted in the longer term. Further information will be forthcoming over the coming weeks as we put these mechanisms in place.
Q: What will happen on strike days?
A: Not all students will be affected by strike action. It is dependent on what action is being taken by individual staff in your School. The University will be open and the majority of classes will take place as normal. You should attend all your scheduled classes unless you have been advised otherwise, in addition to completing and submitting assessments and preparing for exams as normal.
It is likely that on strike days there will be picket lines at the major entrances to the University. This will mean there will be a small group of staff with banners and placards who will speak to people about the dispute and hand out information about the strike. Staff on the picket line will not prevent you from coming onto campus and attending your classes, and you do not have to talk to them if you do not want to.
All picketing must be conducted in a peaceful way and be properly supervised by the UCU. During previous disputes UCU colleagues have always conducted themselves responsibly. We are all part of the University community and we are confident that everyone will remain respectful throughout the dispute even if the opinions of individuals differ.
Q: How much disruption will there be?
A: It is difficult to tell until the industrial action starts as staff are not required to inform the University in advance of their intention to participate in the strike action. In addition, those participating in strike action are not likely to be employed evenly across the academic schools and administrative functions – there may be some schools and departments where the impact is minimal or even non-existent. As far as possible, all University facilities and services will be open and operating as normal.
Q: How will I know if any of my classes will be cancelled on the days of the strikes?
A: The University is asking students to attend their scheduled activities as normal unless they have specifically been told otherwise. We recommend that you speak to your individual lecturers for advice on their plans (although they do not have to provide you with this information) and that you closely monitor the Me@Reading student portal and your University email for the latest information.
Q: Will cancelled classes be re-scheduled?
A: Schools are working hard to identify the most appropriate way to deliver teaching or materials for any classes affected, which may include rescheduling, combining missed classes with other classes or providing materials for you to review independently. Any classes that are rescheduled will appear on your timetable but you should also monitor your University email, the Me@Reading student portal and Blackboard for further information and guidance from your lecturers.
Q: How do I make sure the University knows that my class has not taken place?
A: You should complete the online ‘cancelled classes form’. There is a possibility that some students will go to a seminar or lecture and then find out that it is not happening as no advance warning has to be given by teaching staff. If this happens please take a moment to let us know and help us understand and manage the impact of class cancellations.
Q: Can I submit an extenuating circumstances form (ECF) citing the strike as a mitigating factor in my exam/assessment performance?
A: We are very aware of the potential impact of the strikes on our students, particularly those who are completing their studies with us this academic year. However, it is not yet possible to know what the actual impact of the industrial action will be, so we are not accepting any ECFs in advance relating to possible impact.
However, if students do consider themselves to be academically disadvantaged as a result of actual strike action, there will be a separate process for reporting this which will ensure that programme examiners take this into account. This process will be called Impact of Strike Action on Academic Performance. We will provide you with a full update on this new process on Monday 26 Feb. [there followed a bunch od similar stuff]
Q: What can I do if my teaching is cancelled due to strike action?
A: If your teaching is affected by the strike action you can still make good use of the time. For example, you could: [SNIP - to remove banal suggestions about doing some reading etc.!]
Q: I am really worried about the strike action. What can I do? (My Bold)
A: We know that the prospect of strike action will be making some students feel concerned and anxious. Strikes are uncertain times for everyone involved, but please bear in mind that many students will not be affected or will only be slightly affected. Schools are working extremely hard to do everything reasonable to minimise the likelihood of negative impact on your studies or your grades.
If you already know that some of your classes will be cancelled, make a plan for how you will use that time productively. Talk to others about how they are feeling about it all. If you are feeling very worried contact your personal tutor, the Support Centre (or HBS Admin Deck) or the Advisory Team.
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Q: How do I make a formal complaint?
A: There will be a specific complaint procedure relating to the industrial action. We will publish this on 1 March.
20 February 2018
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