Use the QR code to tell bosses to change their plans to steal staff pay and pensions!
Northumbria UCU are on strike on 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 February, and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 March, and taking Action Short of a Strike from 12 February onwards at both City Campus and Coach Lane Campus – wherever you work normally, you can join the picket lines at both. Depending on negotiations with management, strike days can be suspended, or added.
- Why?
Because university management want to slash staff pay and pensions indefinitely.
Because they have ignored UCU’s constructive proposals to avoid this: https://www.ucu-unn.org.uk/news/319-ucu-cp.
Because they are trashing good will and morale, the university's reputation, and students' experiences.
Because YOU are UCU, and union membership is not just insurance, or a spectator sport. We fight together, we win together.
Now is the time to show up, stand up, and be counted. There can be no bystanders here. If you do nothing, they will do what they want.
Everyone should join in the strike to fightback against their plans to slash your pay and pensions.
- What happens when I go on strike?
When you go on strike you STOP WORK.
Even if you have no teaching that day you STOP WORK.
Wherever and however you normally do your work you STOP WORK: a picket line is actual and virtual/digital, and YOU NEVER CROSS A PICKET LINE.
This means no emails, no online meetings, no using Blackboard etc.
If going on strike will seem like a problem or an inconvenience for you, make it someone else's problem, and inconvenience them.
The whole point of action is to disrupt, to protest, and to STOP WORK.
You don't have to tell anyone beforehand that you are taking action (you can say you haven’t decided), but you do if you are asked after it. Say you did.
The more you take action, and say so, the bigger the impact - management want to know the figures, so give them something to think about!
It is not your responsibility to arrange teaching cover, interview cover, or any other contingency planning - this responsibility sits firmly with the leadership team.
Take off your teaching materials from BB for the sessions you are on strike.
If you're not teaching, don't make it easy for someone else to do your work.
If you know someone not in the union - they need to know they will be asked to do your work. Tell them to join.
- What should I say to students?
You do not have to tell anyone in advance – including students – that you are taking action. But you should share the attached communication and slide with your students at every opportunity, hard-copy and online, and have a conversation with them about what is happening, why, and what they can do to help.
- What do I (not) do during Action Short of a Strike (ASOS)?
This begins from 12 February and runs until further notice. ALL MEMBERS SHOULD PARTICIPATE. As per the terms of the ballot this ‘may include, but is not limited to’: working to contract (i.e. 37-hour full-time week, no weekends and evenings!), not undertaking voluntary duties, not providing cover for absent colleagues and/or non-replaced staff, not volunteering for open days, graduations, and other significant University events and/or milestones, and a boycott of activities relating to the Research Excellence Framework (reviewing, attending meetings, etc.). Get in touch with your rep with any queries, and see here: https://www.ucu-unn.org.uk/news/320-asos-faqs
- Is there a Fighting Fund to mitigate costs?
Yes. There are national and local fighting funds to help mitigate your losses (info on how to claim is here: https://www.ucu-unn.org.uk/news/321-ucu-ff).
- What if I am a Migrant/International taking Action?
Please see this guidance: UCU - Migrant workers and industrial action.
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What else can I do?
- Sign and share the petition against management’s plans here (over 1000 people have): Northumbria Pay and Pension Petition: Stop the Steal! | Megaphone UK
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Donate to the fighting fund:
Unity Trust Bank,UCU Northumbria Univ NE119,Hardship Fund,SC 608301,AN 20295578
