A reminder that we are taking strike action on Thursday 14 May in support of staff in Scholar and LINCS who are still under threat of compulsory redundancy.
Edinburgh based colleagues are asked to join our picket line by the Riccarton Mains Road roundabout between 07:30 and 11:00. Please come early. If you are driving you can use either of the Park and Ride or the car park nearest the hotel.
We need as many of you as possible to be there on Thursday to show the university leadership your commitment to protecting the educational provision at Heriot-Watt. Bring your own placards, costumes, snacks, a chair to sit on, pink hats and waterproofs in case of rain.
If you only strike for one day – make it the 14th May. The pickets are friendly, collegial and you may make some of the best friends of your life on the pickets – I know I have. Strike not only to protect your jobs, but your colleague’s and friends jobs. Please take some time to show your colleagues that you stand with them in their time of need.
Dispute resolution process
We are in dispute over 3 key issues:
- The failure to rule out compulsory redundancies as a result of ‘rightsizing’
- the failure to rule out compulsory redundancies in Scholar
- Proposed changes to research time
In the last round of industrial action we cancelled the first two days of strike action to enable the discussions to continue and we tabled a proposal for financial stability without the need for compulsory redundancies. Our proposal was flatly rejected by the university without a meeting.
We have since had two key meetings.
Two of your negotiators met with the Deputy Principal for Research and Innovation and the Deputy Principal of Education and Student life to start a shared statement on research time. We will meet again to try and finalise a draft of this statement.
In a dispute resolution meeting on Monday the university had still not moved from their position on compulsory redundancies in Scholar and LINCS. Discussions are set to continue after both parties take the time to reflect on the discussion.
Members have already twice rejected the proposal from the university and in absence of an improved offer the strike will now go ahead.
Declaring strike action
Members may wish to inform students of potential disruption to lectures and tutorials but you have no obligation to tell your line manager or the university that you plan to strike before the action takes place.
When asked after any strike days if you took part in industrial action you must declare truthfully whether you did. It is important too for demonstrating the strength of the action to management.
Solidarity
We have received the message below from the Glasgow Branch of the NUJ – who remind us that no trade union member ever stands alone:
NUJ Glasgow branch stands in solidarity with UCU members on strike at Heriot-Watt University. Our union’s own student members at Heriot-Watt depend on quality teaching and lecturers’ willingness to stand up to defend it. Management must listen to the union’s demands and rule out compulsory redundancies without delay.
