UCU industrial action: Message from the HR Director
Monday, 17 February 2020
This message from HR Director John Brady about the industrial action commencing 20 February 2020 has gone out to all colleagues at the University.
Dear colleagues,
Following Robert’s message earlier in the month, I am writing to remind you about the upcoming University & College Union (UCU) strike action on the following days:
- Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February (two days)
- Monday 24, Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February (three days)
- Monday 2, Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March (four days)
- Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March (five days).
All of the information provided for the strike action at the end of last year remains unchanged. It is important that you take the opportunity to remind yourself of this, particularly if you are planning to participate in the strike action.
Here are some of the key points you should know:
- As with the last period of action, pay will be deducted for each day of strike action at a rate of 1/365th. Deductions will be made from the next available pay-run, likely to be March.
- You are not required to inform the University in advance if you plan to participate in the strike action. If you do take strike action, however, you must declare your participation immediately following each day of strike action (and after no more than 24 hours, including non-working days). You can do this simply by e-mailing me at j.j.brady@reading.ac.uk, including your School or Function to avoid confusion.
- If there are exceptional reasons why you might not be able to comply with these reporting requirements, please let me know as soon as possible.
- When pay is deducted for strike days the University has to make exceptional arrangements to maintain pension contributions. Your agreement is needed to do this for any days you are on strike, so please email me no later than Wednesday 19 February 2020 at j.j.brady@reading.ac.uk if you want to do this.
The Office for Students (OfS) requires universities to do all they reasonably can to minimise disruption and to make up for any lost learning experienced by students. This is a significant responsibility and is reflected in the position we have taken in response to the strike action, but I would stress that we will always act in a reasonable and proportionate manner.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly, or the HR Partner for your area.
Best wishes.
John