Thank-you to all those who made it to the pickets today for the final day in this round of strike action. It was another excellent turnout. We will call a members’ meeting soon to discuss options for further action to defend jobs over the summer and into the new session. Please try to attend once a date is fixed and shared. Your negotiators will be meeting with management in the meantime and we remain optimistic that they can find a way forward. The next meeting will be on 8 April and we will feed back.

UCU Joint Rally

After the pickets many of the branch members made their way to Bristo Square for a joint rally with the University of Edinburgh branch of UCU. Students from Heriot-Watt joined speakers from UoE, UCU, Unison, STUC, and spoke passionately about the need to defend higher education as a public good. What is happening at Heriot-Watt is happening elsewhere and our struggle is part of a wider campaign to preserve education.

Gathering data about strike action

Following concerns raised by members about the new method for reporting strike action to a strict deadline (which is not in itself enforceable in law) we have written to the university Data Protection Officer and HR. In tracking the impact of industrial action on teaching we feel that there is potential for lists to be generated by the app creating what could be deemed to be a blacklist. You can read the letter and we will share any updates as we have them.

Action Short of Strike

Tomorrow will likely to be a very busy day for those of us who are not on leave but please remember that we are working to contract as Action Short of Strike.  Don’t give management your time for nothing by working more than your contracted working hours.