Monday 21-10-2019 - 11:01

The University and College Union (UCU) is currently asking its members in a ballot whether they want to take strike action or ‘action short of a strike’ over the treatment of academic staff. This is due to many issues, mainly disputes over pay and the USS pension scheme. As many Durham University academic staff and research postgraduates who teach are members of UCU and potentially enrolled in the USS pension scheme, such action has the potential to take place here in Durham. This may cause disruption to the functioning of the University. You can read more about why UCU is considering strike action here.

UCU last took strike action in 2018 over the issue of pensions, which means the SU has experience of strike action taking place on campus, and how to support students through such action. You can read more about the position we took in 2018 here. During that strike action, we remained in close contact with UCU throughout to work together to minimise the impact it had on students. Strikes, or industrial action short of a strike, are not certain to happen at this point in time, but we feel it is important for students to understand what is going on.

For those students, such as Postgraduate Research students, who may be eligible to vote in the ballot and take action, we unequivocally support any action you vote for or against. You have a right to self-determine how best to protect your own working conditions, and to expect our support over your decision.

The 2018 strike involved the cancellation of all work for the University by those members of staff who are members of UCU for a total of 14 days over four weeks in Epiphany term. The 2018 dispute was over pensions specifically – the guaranteed retirement income element of the USS pension scheme was under threat of being scrapped, which was unacceptable to UCU. In addition, a recent valuation of the assets of the pension fund, which could have required greater financial contributions from staff and universities to plug a deficit, was also disputed.

The cancellation of work included any teaching and assessment of students scheduled on strike days, however the action was timed so as not to disrupt the end-of-year exams. UCU were clear the impact was targeted at disrupting the University as an institution, rather than students’ education, and worked to realise this as best possible. The University itself took steps to ensure that alternative means of learning were provided to students, and that material that was not taught as a result of the strike was not assessed in summative work or in examinations. In addition, the strike action did not affect access to facilities such as the library and support services such as counselling.

As stated above, there is only a possibility and not a certainty that any industrial action will take place at Durham this year. Should any action take place, the SU will endeavour to work closely with UCU and the University to minimise the impact of such action on students. To keep up to speed with what is happening in relation to industrial action and the support we can offer to students, please refer to our dedicated pages on the SU Advice Service website.