On Friday the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and the joint higher education trade unions (comprising UCU, UNISON, EIS, GMS and Unite)
issued a joint statement [PDF] relating to the ongoing national industrial action.
It has been agreed by all parties “to allow for a period of calm to facilitate further ACAS discussions”. UCU will therefore “pause industrial action and not call any new industrial action in weeks commencing 20 and 27 February on the basis that no pay award will be imposed/implemented by [universities] during that period”.
We welcome this agreement and the decision to suspend strike action for this period.
For more information, please see the joint statement [PDF].
Louise LesterHR Director
Message to students - Update from the Vice-Principal (Education): industrial action
Dear student,
On 26 January I wrote to you to explain that, unfortunately, the trade union UCU had informed us of further strike action affecting all universities across the UK, including Queen Mary.
Over the past week, talks have been taking place to resolve the national issues, with a joint statement published on Friday [PDF]. The talks have resulted in strike action being paused by UCU.
Industrial action only affects a very small number of our disciplinary areas and degree programmes at Queen Mary. However, for those of you who have unfortunately been affected over the past few weeks, we expect all your teaching activities to run as scheduled.
I would also like to remind you to please use the missed teaching form if any scheduled educational activity is cancelled or doesn’t go ahead as planned (or has been cancelled on previous strike days), and you have not been told the education will be made up.
Best wishes,
Stephanie
Professor Stephanie MarshallBA Hons, MA, D Phil, Dip. Man., PFHEAVice Principal (Education)