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Strike for USS - day 2 report and our response to UUK 'talks' (Mon 12:30, UUK, Tavistock Sq Gardens)
25 February 2018
Day two of our strike action was solidly supported at UCL and around the country.
Pickets and supporters met to discuss the day and reported widespread cancellation of lectures, near empty buildings and all could see that campus was once again very quiet. UCL students prepared delicious hot food for us and we were pleased to receive solidarity donations to our fighting fund.
The employers side is weak and increasingly divided as our strike action bites. Seventeen VCs have broken ranks to demand meaningful talks, the shadow cabinet has come out in support of our action, the government minister for universities has demanded negotiations resume with "no preconditions" and many newspapers have given our dispute balanced coverage.
UUK has asked UCU for "talks" on Tuesday 27 Feb, but with preconditions. A leaked email from within UUK says that the talks will not reopen discussion on the 23 January decision to impose the end of the Defined Benefit scheme. Whilst UCU negotiators will meet them, our strike action continues.
Tomorrow, Monday 26 February our strike action resumes and continues through Tuesday and Wednesday and other dates as planned. Please join our picketing from 07:30 at the Quad entrance on Gower Street. It will be very, very cold according to forecasts, so if you are joining our picket lines please make sure you wear warm clothing!
Also tomorrow, we have called a mass protest in front of the UUK Offices at 12.30pm (after picketing). It's time to show our numbers in one place. Supporters from other London branches will join us. Assemble in Tavistock Square Gardens.
Please keep your non-union colleagues updated, encourage them to join in the action and of course to join the UCU.
Keep up to date on strike events by following us on twitter @UCL_UCU and Facebook.
You can also see details of the teach-outs that are happening during the strike on our Facebook page - on Monday at 14:00 we have 'The history and future of universities in Britain' organised by UCL History with guest speaker Paul Mason.
