Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Message from the Vice-Chancellor: Action short of a strike and phased pay deductions

We understand that colleagues who are participating in industrial action care passionately about their students, and regret what they sincerely see as a necessity for continued action. On that basis, and within the constraints of action short of a strike, we take it that colleagues  will do everything they can to minimise the impact on students, and to ensure that students are well prepared for examinations.  We understand that those efforts may take many forms, and that it may be neither practicable nor pedagogically desirable to attempt to reschedule classes. We therefore do not envisage circumstances where colleagues will have pay withheld for action short of a strike.

In the interest of maintaining effective employee relations the University will phase pay deductions for those participating in strike action over a three -month pay period effective from April 2018.  The University also reaffirms its commitment that pay withheld for strike action will stay with academic Schools in order to support student education.  The University wishes to continue constructive discussions with UCU, and we are doing all that we can to influence talks at national level in order to secure a sustainable settlement on pensions.

Colin Riordan

Vice-Chancellor