Industrial action at UCL, 14–16 November 2022

Our colleagues in security do vital jobs for UCL and we are committed to ensuring that our outsourced colleagues are rewarded fairly in line with our staff. UCL’s Security workforce is represented by a recognised trade union, Unison. Following positive and productive negotiations between Unison and UCL, we have invested over £10m per year to harmonise pay and benefits for our outsourced colleagues – who are employed under the same terms and key conditions as in-house staff. 

In 2021, we were officially recognised as a London living wage employer and have incorporated a minimum London living wage requirement into standard terms and conditions for our external suppliers. 

When will the industrial action take place and what does it mean for me? 

Strike action will take place on 14, 15 and 16 November, and into the early morning of 17 November.

We do not expect that this strike will have any impact on your teaching and learning, and all classes will go ahead as scheduled. 

However, striking staff may create a ‘picket line’ by standing outside their workplace to tell people why they are taking part in industrial action and ask them not to cross the line. When you are on campus, you may see picket lines made up of striking staff outside UCL buildings. They may be handing out information and they may ask you not to cross their picket line.     

Striking staff on picket lines are not allowed to prevent students or any staff who are not taking part in the strike from coming onto campus or entering any UCL buildings. Although picket lines can sometimes appear intimidating, it is important to remember that the staff on strike have no grievance with you and they will fully respect your right to go about your business as usual.  

If you feel at all intimidated by picketers, please inform UCL Security by calling 222 from a UCL landline phone or +44 (0)20 7679 2222 from a mobile.  

You can also get in touch with UCL’s Security team at the touch of a button by downloading UCL’s Safezone app – find out more. 

If you experience any inappropriate behaviour please visit Report and Support to report this.