Friday 03-02-2023 - 16:44

We are sure that you are aware of the current strikes and have probably got a fair few questions – whether that be what they mean for you, our position on them, or why they have happened in the first place.  

We have pulled together this helpful Q&A, to give you everything you need to know about the strikes, and hopefully answer any queries that you currently have! 

Who is striking? 

   
First things first, who is actually striking? Well, there are two different unions that have announced industrial action – the University and Colleges Union (UCU) and UNISON. Both of these unions represent different staff at uni, so their strike dates and the way that they may affect you will be slightly different.  

UCU represents over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians, technicians, professional staff, and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education, and training organisations across the UK. 

UNISON – the UK’s largest union, which has over 1.4 million individuals – represents a broad range of public services. These include local government, health care, education, police and justice, community, water, environment and transport, energy, and private contractors. 

At uni, UNISON represents administration and IT, cleaning, catering, and facilities maintenance, technical and laboratory services, security, library, and sports centre services; and student union services.  

So, all in all, many of the friendly faces you see around campus and throughout uni life will be represented by these unions and are expected to be striking over the next few weeks! 

What are they striking about? 
 

So, we know who is striking. But why exactly are they striking – what has happened to lead up until this point?  

UCU Strikes 

UCU members will be striking for 18 days, stretched over several weeks in February and March, over issues including involving pay, working conditions such as unsafe workloads, casualisation and equality failings, and pension cuts. 

The union is asking for an improvement on the current 4-5% pay increase offer because of the cost-of-living crisis. It is also hoping to reverse cuts made to the USS pension scheme. Employer body UUK voted to cut thousands of pounds from the retirement benefits of university staff. This action detrimentally affects university staff at the beginning of their careers. UCU believes the cuts were not necessary and can now be revoked. 

UCU argues that staff pay at universities has dropped by over 25% in real terms since 2009, meaning staff are being paid almost a quarter less than they would be if the pay had kept pace with inflation (RPI) over this period.  

Also, they argue staff’s working conditions have deteriorated, with increasing use of short-term, insecure, or casual contracts which leave staff at risk, and excessive workloads which impact staff wellbeing.  

For these reasons, and more, members are striking. Check out their website to find out a little bit more about the union and how it has got to this point of action. 
 

UNISON Strikes 

Bristol staff members of UNISON have voted in favour of taking strike action this academic year over pay disputes. This is a national issue, so any decisions on the action will have been influenced by UNISON’s national position! 

UNISON says that its members will be striking for a pay rise that keeps up with inflation. Because of the cost-of-living crisis and increased bills, UNISON argues that its members can’t afford to live on the money offered by employers.  

The union is currently in a national dispute with the University and Colleges Employers Association over its below-inflation pay rise of 3% for Higher Education Staff – which UNISON rejected back in May. 

Staff are asking for a pay increase 2% above the rate of inflation, which is currently 10%. 

Take a look at the union's website to find out more about it, and how it has got to this point of action. 

When is it happening? 
 

UNISON and UCU strikes will both be happening over the next few weeks, running through February and March. 

UNISON has announced that its members will be striking on Thursday 16, Friday 17 and Wednesday 22 February. On the dates in bold UCU strikes will also be taking place. 

As well as the strike day that has just passed (on 1 February) UCU has also announced the following strike dates: 

• Week 2 - Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February
• Week 3 - Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February 
• Week 4 - Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February 
• Week 5 - Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 March
• Week 6 - Thursday 16 and Friday 17 March  
• Week 7 - Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March 

Why is it important? 
 

There are so many reasons why these strikes are important.  

Here at Bristol, we stand against the marketisation of higher education and want staff to feel supported in taking action against the issues it has caused. 

We released the following statement on anti-marketisation as part of our work in supporting the strikes:  

“Bristol SU stands against the marketisation of higher education, and we recognise the key role that it plays in causing the issues that university staff are striking over, as well as many of the issues currently faced by students.  

In 2010, following the release of the Browne Report, the Government voted to raise the cap on tuition fees from £3,290 a year to £9,000 a year. This move has had a detrimental impact on the higher education sector, with universities forced further into competition, which has changed education from a right to a commodity.   

We recognise that the rise in tuition fees has not only negatively impacted higher education institutions themselves, but it has also greatly harmed the student experience. Students have been forced into the position of consumers, and sector-wide issues on the subjects of wellbeing, housing, and community building have grown in severity and complexity.   

Going forward, we will be using our voice as a member of the National Union of Students (NUS) and Russell Group SUs to amplify and bring further attention to the issue, and fight for a democratised, demarketised, and decolonised education. We will challenge the University on mitigating the local impact, through addressing the need to continue improving wellbeing support, challenging the unsustainable expansion of the institution, and supporting student-staff solidarity.” 

How will it affect me? 
 

Striking is likely to affect you over the next few weeks, but please try not to worry! We will be working alongside your course reps to find ways of spreading any info about cancelled teaching, and doing as much as we can to support you. 

Cancelled teaching is likely to happen during UCU strikes – affecting some lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Because striking staff do not need to tell the uni if they are striking, it isn’t possible to know which subjects and teaching will be affected. 

But, in our experience, striking staff will choose to let you know if they are going on strike.!  

For UNISON strikes, members of staff are from professional services – as explained in the ‘Who is striking’ section – so teaching shouldn’t be affected! But support for academic work could be disrupted. For example, library access, course admin and timetabling.  

You’re likely to spot staff on picket lines throughout the striking period. In fact, there are likely to be joint Unison and UCU rallies when both unions are taking industrial action. Come and join in to show your support. And, if you’re a postgraduate student who teaches, you might even be taking industrial action yourself! 

What is Bristol SU doing about it? 

 
We support the strikes! But we do recognise the impact that they will have on you. So, we are doing everything in our power to reduce this. 

Here is what we are doing to help: 

• Bristol SU are continuously ensuring that relevant and up-to-date information is available on our website and social media channels including content “mythbusting” common misunderstandings regarding strike action. 

• Your Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Officers have lobbied the University to ensure that any content missed due to strike action is removed from assessment content 

• For the 21-22 year, Bristol SU (specifically the Undergraduate Education Officer, with SU staff), were involved in discussions around the reallocation of withheld pay, ensuring that money went back into the student experience 

• Bristol SU has responded to queries from students surrounding fee rebates, directing them to the appropriate avenues for support during this process 

I still have questions 

If you still have questions, do not fear! We recognise that this could be a daunting time so want to provide you with as much info as possible. 

We have plenty more information on both of the strikes, along with some additional Q&A’s on our Unison page and our UCU page.  

If you would like more information about how the strike action is affecting university services and who you can contact, please see the University's webpage. 

To contact a Bristol SU Officer to discuss the impact of the strike on students, please email your Undergraduate Education Officer, nicole.antoine.2017@bristol.ac.uk or your Postgraduate Education Officer, lu.macey@bristol.ac.uk.  

For further advice on what to do if the strikes are affecting your studies, please email bristolsu-advice@bristol.ac.uk.