UCL-UCU: Notice of further strike action

This is an update about the strike action over the Four Fights, advice on recording strike action, and a reminder of your right to claim from your union’s Fighting Funds.

We are being called out again for the last week of term: 21-25 March 2022 (5 days)

If you have participated in the strike action from the start, you will have been called out on the following dates:

• 1-3 December 2021 (3 days)
• 21-22 February 2022 (2 days)
• 28 Feb - 2 March 2022 (3 days)

This means that by the end of term 2, members will have struck for up to 13 days in the current dispute.

Everyone who has been on strike (whether a UCU member or not) is asked by UCL to complete an online form to register strike participation. Colleagues are reminded not to document ASOS participation as there is no good reason to do so, and no deductions will be made for participation.

Note that strike participation applies only on days when you were normally scheduled to work, and not on leave. So, if you work part-time for UCL, but do not work on a day in question, then you should not record that day as being on strike. Similarly, staff on maternity, sick or pre-booked annual leave are on leave, not on strike.

UCL has said they will make deductions at a rate of 1/365 (pro rata for part time staff). Where staff are hourly paid, they should only be deducted for the hours they are actually on strike on the days in question (at a rate of 1/(365x7.3) for each hour). As the form asks you to specify the number of hours of strike action that you took, you should record it accurately. You should check with your line manager, departmental administrator or HoD if you believe deductions are excessive.

Claims to the UCU Fighting Fund

All members are entitled to claim from the UCU Fighting Fund at up to £75/day (for colleagues earning below £30,000 gross per year) or £50/day (otherwise). Aside from the salary threshold, claims are not means-tested.

Claims are made to the national Fighting Fund for days 2-12 inclusive. Your branch has agreed that claims may also be made to our local Fighting Fund for day 1 at the same rate.

Claims can only be made after the deduction has been made. Click here for instructions on how to apply to the national Fighting Fund. To avoid duplication of effort, members may apply for the additional first day of strike action from the branch Hardship Fund after they have made a claim to the national Fighting Fund (further details to follow).

UCL UCU Executive Committee

@ucl_ucu

UCL UCU website

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