Category Archives: On strike

Huge picket turnout for Day 1 of strike action and visit by Richard Leonard MSP

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UCU picket line with Richard Leonard MSP (centre), the Student Progressive Society, and visitors from some of local schools.

A big thank-you to Richard Leonard MSP, the Society for Progressive Students, and all of hardy souls who braved a chilly start and heavy traffic to make their way to the picket lines this morning. A huge turnout of nearly 100 staff, students, and visitors.

It was a rare treat to be able to welcome some junior supporters whose teachers are also on strike for fair pay and secure work.

It is not rocket science Professor Richard A Williams, as a cub reporter discovered. All we want is equal pay for the same work and a secure future where we can afford to pay our bills and feed our families. While spending on vanity projects and Vice Chancellor pay has soared, our pay and pensions have been slashed.

The longer the picket line, the shorter the dispute

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Noticed has been served that strike action will be taking place in November as follows:

  • Thursday 24 November
  • Friday 25 November
  • Wednesday 30 November (with a national demonstration at Kings Cross in London)

We will also be commencing Action Short of Strike (ASOS) from Wednesday 23 November. This means:

  • work to contract (meaning that you only fulfil the duties explicitly expressed in your contract)
  • not undertake voluntary activities
  • not cover for absent colleagues
  • refuse to reschedule classes missed due to industrial action
  • remove materials for classes that would have taken place on strike days from online learning platforms.

Our message to the employers is clear, and this is just the start. If negotiations are not heading in the right direction by the new year, then we will commence escalating action including a marking and assessment boycott.

Financial support will be available for those who need it, and more information will be circulated shortly.

We need to deliver the kind of action that makes our employers, led by vice-chancellors with huge pay packets, sit up and listen.

Posties vote to walk out over pay award

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Royal Mail postal workers have voted overwhelmingly yes for strike action in support of demands for a dignified, proper pay rise.

Members of the Communication Workers Union voted by 97.6% on a 77% turnout, the biggest mandate for strike action since the implementation of the 2016 Trade Union Act.

While inflation has soared to over 10% management at the Royal Mail Group have imposed a 2% pay award on workers. In effect, a dramatic reduction. CWU are demanding an adequate pay award which covers the current cost of living increases for its members.

UCU stands with CWU members and members of every trade union undertaking industrial action. You can show your support by putting up this poster to request no deliveries on strike days.

Please support our colleagues in QMUL who are facing 100% deduction of pay for taking part in ASOS

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Update: We are deeply saddened to learn today that staff at QMUL have been deducted 100% and received payslips indicating £0.00 for a month’s work with pension contribution not paid either meaning among other things that death in service benefit is paused. We absolutely deplore the succession of attacks on his own staff and students by bullying millionaire Vice Chancellor Colin Bailey at QMUL who is also a board member at UCEA. It is time that he outsourced himself. In the meantime you can help by giving what you can to support affected staff.

Update: Not content with wanting to withhold 100% pay we hear that Principal Colin Baily is threatening to close down QMUL’s Film degree programmes to further punish staff over industrial action. Please read and sign this Open Letter from the Film Department at QMUL to show your support in face of this vindictive intimidation.

We are appalled to hear that the management at Queen Mary University of London has published guidance to line managers on how to enforce deductions of 100% pay indefinitely from members taking part in ASOS while asking non-striking staff to cover for absent colleagues under threat of disciplinary action.

We stand with our sister branch in resisting this needlessly vicious attack by QMUL management on their employees.

A crowd-funder has been established to provide financial support for staff affected. Please give what you can to help QMUL branch build sufficient hardship reserves at this difficult time.

 

Checking your strike deductions

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If you have not already done so, please check your payslip for strike deductions. The total number of days deducted across all payslips since December should match the total number of days declared in ERP but there have been some issues with the same days being taken twice, either double the number of days being taken this month, or days that were already deducted last month being deducted again.

If you think there has been a mistake please contact payroll who will help rectify the issue. Please note that any amount returned reflects the post-tax deduction.

With the introduction of ERP, the abrupt cessation of the existing payslip service, and the switch the new provider, it has been a challenging time for workers in Payroll. They have been doing an excellent job of fixing the issues caused, so please be patient as they work to rectify the problems

The new payslip system can be accessed via https://heriotwatt.sharepoint.com/sites/hr/SitePages/Payslips.aspx (HWU login required).

You can find information about the calculation of deductions and how to claim strike pay on our Cost of Striking and Strike Pay page.

Final day for now but the fight continues

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Support our Striking Staff

To mark our last strike day on Friday we finished with particularly colourful picket and a book swap to raise money for our local branch Hardship Fund.

On the picket we have been joined many visitors who came to show their support solidarity. These have included:

  • The Heriot-Watt Student Progressive Society
  • Our BSL colleagues and interpreter Kitty
  • Joanna Cherry QC and MP for Edinburgh South West
  • Richard Leonard MSP
  • Val Walker, Scottish Labour candidate in the Edinburgh City Council Elections
  • Des Loughney, Edinburgh Trade Union Council
  • Vicky Blake, UCU President
  • Lena Wanggren, UCU Scotland President
  • Janet Farrar, UCU President Elect

A big thank-you to you all, and also to the passers-by to stopped to chat and help us with our group photos, and to those of you who have tooted and honked in support.

We raised £109 in cash, with more donations to be made directly into the hardship fund. This has far exceeded our expectations and just to reiterate: please don’t hesitate to claim if you’re struggling financially due to pay deductions for strike action.

Action Short of Strike

For now we continue with Action Short of Strike and no-one should work beyond  35 hrs/week (or part thereof if on a fractional contract), reschedule classes or meetings cancelled due to strike action, cover for absent colleagues, or undertake voluntary tasks. Something which you can do is activate your automatic reply in email, clarifying that you are participating in Action Short of strike. Some examples you can use:

  1. I am participating in industrial action where I work to ‘contract’ (known as action short of a strike or ASOS).  This means that we work only 100% of our allocated working time but not beyond that.  Given that our normal work load expects us to use our goodwill to work excessive hours, this means that my progress and replies to your email might take much longer than either of us would like. If you want to know more about why I participate in ASOS, please see here: UCU – Why we’re taking action
  2. I am taking part in continuous action short of a strike in the form of working to contract as part of UCU’s national industrial action to defend pensions and pay for university staff, and to push back against the widening inequalities across higher education. You can find further information about the disputes here: UCU – Why we’re taking action

Further information which may be of use:

How to say No to extra work

You can politely and professionally decline work/volunteering as part of ASOS or you can send an email stating: ‘I am currently engaged in action short of strike to defend [eg] pay, equalities and pensions which includes working to my contract. All UCU members are advised not to cover for absent colleagues or undertake voluntary activities as part of this action. For this reason I am unable to…’

If your manager raises a concern about this, inform your local branch officers immediately.

Some other initiatives

  • Write to your MSPs, constituency and list. The Education, Children and Young People Committee (ECYP) of the Scottish Parliament has the power to call witnesses as part of a committee enquiry into the governance of Scotland’s Universities. Our Principals can be held to account over their claims that UCU pension proposals are unaffordable. Our colleagues at the University of Edinburgh have started a campaign. You can contact our local branch office for a flyer that explains more, and a sample letter template which you can use.
  • Mass resignation of external examiners

Not in the UCU?

It is never too late to join the UCU. You do not have to be a member of a union to take part in industrial action and had have your voice heard, but it is advisable. Being part of a recognised collective bargaining group comes with benefits and protections.

It only takes a few minutes to join the UCU, it doesn’t cost much, and your subscription will be eligible for tax relief.

 

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Taps-oan and don’t forget to post your ballot

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Scorchio!!!

Not quite taps-aff in Edinburgh on day 4 of this week (day 14 of this year, and day 17 of the current round of strikes of pensions, pay and working conditions) but some deck chairs and an ice cream van would not have been out of place this morning.

Thank-you to everyone who has observed the strike action this week and especially those who have joined the in person and virtual pickets. Tomorrow (25th March) is our last day of our current wave before other branches start action next week. Lets make the picket the largest and most vibrant yet.

We picket from around 08:30 to 10:30 outside the main entrance to the Edinburgh campus, and tomorrow we will have a Book Swap to raise funds for the branch hardship fund. Please bring any books you would like to swap (probably not academic books!) and some cash to buy some books on the day (we are suggesting a £1 per book donation – we recognise times are very tough so if you would like a book please do come along and you can donate another time). The Book Swap will last from around 09:00 to 10:00 with our daily photo taken at 10:00 If, like Elvis, you don’t carry cash you can donate online.

To make the social media photos as vibrant as possible please consider wearing some bright colours and bring a homemade placard. I will be wearing my lovely UCU coloured tights and making a placard to show my solidarity with the P&O workers. Please see https://twitter.com/The_TUC/status/1506958305150840837 if you are looking for some inspiration. Please also bring any food you would like. The bar has been set high by yesterday’s BBQ s’mores.

If you haven’t been to a picket before, please come and meet some new friends. Tomorrow will be a great day to start.

If you have any colleagues who are not in the UCU they will also be most welcome to visit the picket, donate to the hardship fund, and look for some new new books! If eligible, they can also join UCU online at https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

See you there!!

Ballot papers

Please also remember to post your ballot papers. The educational trade unions have put their pay claim forward and this will make a tangible material difference to your life.

It is essential we show the employers that we are committed to not only our own working conditions, but to preserving universities for the next generation of workers. If you have not received or lost your ballot papers you must request a new one ASAP.

Thank you for your patience as we follow up with members via email and text to find out if you’ve been able to vote yet or not. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the branch.

 

A wonderful sunny Wednesday morning with Val Walker

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Left to right: Marion, Val, Caroline, and Ruth. John and George at the back. Where did Zippy go?

We were delighted to welcome Val Walker to the picket today. Val is the Scottish Labour candidate for Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart ward in the Edinburgh City Council Elections on May 5th, 2022. If elected, Val will be working on behalf of communities that span Fountainbridge where she has lived for 20 years, Shandon, Craiglockhart, and Chesser.

Plenty of chat about community issues and local democracy but it didn’t take long before we got onto the state of the roads. Sorry Val!

Along with the restoration of essential front-line services hit by cuts, Val is pledging to work on getting the basics right: The condition of the roads and pavements, ensuring safety for pedestrians and cyclists while also taking the views of local residents who need access and parking into account, and the provision and maintenance of safe public spaces for everyone. The sort of issues which anyone who regularly cycles or walks into campus via the South West corridor or Union Canal, particularly through the dark winter months, will be familiar with. On the environment, Val told us of her commitment to protect and enhance our green spaces, and the drive to ensure that the Council’s ambitious net zero carbon reduction targets are met by 2030. Gets my vote.

S’mores get my vote too. A breakfast of melted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two lotus biscuits. Nice one Krissy. I’d never heard of them before today. I’m going to have to try a triple decker now.

Local Council Elections

The election is due to take place on Thursday 5 may 2022.

Did you know?

  • Students can register at both of their term-time and home addresses but can only vote once in a particular election.
  • All foreign citizens, resident in Scotland, who have permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who do not need such permission, can vote at Scottish Parliament elections and Local Council elections.
  • 16 and 17 year olds, resident in Scotland, can vote at Scottish Parliament elections and Local Council elections.

To vote in the elections you need to be registered to vote.

You can register online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The deadline for applications to register to vote in the Local Council elections is midnight on Monday 18 April 2022. If you have already received your poll card you do not need to register again.

Postal vote applications must be submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer no later than 5pm on Tuesday 19 April 2022. To find out more and register to vote by post visit https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-post

Further information

For further information on registering to vote, or for advice on postal or proxy voting please contact our office using the details below.

Gary Elliott
Electoral Registration Officer
17A South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh
EH12 9FL

Email: enquiries@lothian-vjb.gov.uk
Phone: 0131 344 2500
Website: https://www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ERO_lothianvjb

Our picket is the place to be for breakfast

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Janet Farrar (UCU) and Richard Leonard MSP

This morning we welcomed Richard Leonard MSP and Janet Farrar from the UCU. On the menu: sausages, eggs, tatty scones, and some great craic with our new friends.

Richard, a long-time trade unionist and former leader of the Scottish Labour Party was once described by comic book author Mark Millar as “the most exciting thing to happen up here in decades”. A man ahead of his time Richard has long advocated nationalising the scottish rail network and providing free public transport. Ideas subsquently adopted by the Scottish Government.

Honoured to stand in solidarity with Heriot-Watt UCU branch and Janet Farrar this morning. All UCU members have my 100% backing in ther fight to stop this pensions robbery. – Richard Leonard, MSP

Janet is President Elect of the UCU, taking over from Vicky Blake after Congress in June. She lectures in a Trade Union Education unit at Manchester College and has extensive experience across a full range of union roles at local, regional, and national level. Janet has first hand experience of life on precarious contracts and juggling excessive workloads, and she is passionately committed to tackling inequalities and supporting members who are exeperiencing stress as a result of bullying and harassment.

Thanks so much for a lovely welcome at a cracking branch – Janet Farrar, UCU President Elect

A big thank-you to @LabourRichard and @janetfarrarUCU. It was great to see you both. A visit to the pickets always boosts morale and we are particularly grateful to Richard for raising our concerns and dispute in the Scottish Parliament.

Switching now from national to local, we hope to be meeting Val Walker tomorrow (Wednesday). Val is the Scottish Labour Candidate for the Fountainbridge Craighlockhart ward in the Edinburgh City Council Elections. Many of our staff and students here at HWU live in this ward, so this is a great opportunity to meet Val and find out a little bit more about her pledges on everything from roads and transport to greenspace and net-zero targets.

No word yet on what culinary delights will be served up but we hope to see you all there.

P.S. Don’t forget to complete your ballot and return in the pre-paid envelope. If you haven’t received yours yet, watch for an email from UCU with a link for ordering replacements from Wednesday.

A big turnout of staff and students for the start of the third wave of strike action

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Day 11 and a big turnout for the start of the third wave of strike action

We were joined today by Des Loughney of the Edinburgh Trade Union Council (ETUC) and students from HWU Student Union for the start of the third wave of strike action in the USS pension and 4-Fights disputes.

The ETUC has been in existence since 1853 when as the Edinburgh & District Trades Council it campaigned for workers in Edinburgh to get a half day off on Saturdays.

Continuing in this proud tradition a motion to support the UCU disputes was recently passed by the Student Union. HWU students will be joining staff on picket lines to show that they stand in solidarity with the UCU, and signing the NUS open letter to UUK and UCEA executives.

Staff deserve to be paid fairly for their work. They deserve contracts that guarantee them a stable job, and workloads that are manageable. Women, disabled staff and staff of colour deserve pay parity with their counterparts.

Why you should be on strike

Our employer’s have forced through pension cuts which will see reductions of up to 35% in the retirement income guaranteed to a typical member. We want our employers to stop these unecessary cuts and re-enter negotiations. We also want our employers to stop using zero-hours casual contracts and work with us to tackle unmanageable workloads and end race, gender, and disability pay gaps.

Our employers can afford to do all of this but they are choosing instead to squeeze staff and make students suffer.