Industrial Action May 2023 Information
What is happening and when?
In addition to the Marking and Assessment Boycott, SOAS UCU members are undertaking strike action over the following few weeks. This is in relation to the pay and working conditions disputes and follows SOAS managements decision to withhold 100% of pay of staff participating in the Marking and Assessment Boycott.
The upcoming strike dates are 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st May, 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th June.
In April, the University and Colleges Union (UCU), who represent many academics and support staff at universities across the UK (United Kingdom) announced plans for nationwide Action Short of Strike, also known as ASOS. ASOS includes a Marking and Assessment Boycott, sometimes referred to as MAB. This started on the 20th April and will be continuous until the end of the mandate (six months after the ballot calling industrial action closed) or earlier if the disputes are settled, or UCU decides to call off the action.
What is UCU and why are they undertaking Industrial Action?
UCU is the University and College Union. It is a national union representing 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. Click here to go to the UCU website.
Most universities will have their own branch that represents the members at that university. Last year when UCU undertook a national ballot on whether to undertake industrial action UCU members at SOAS voted to undertake this action. They again voted to undertake industrial action during the reballot in 2023.
UCU members at SOAS are undertaking industrial action over pay and working conditions and the USS pension dispute, although the currently action is suspended nationally in relation to the USS Pension Dispute.
The pay and working conditions dispute relates to pay not rising in line with inflation which has resulted in a real world pay cut which has continued over a number of years. Alongside this there has been an increase in workload as student numbers and expectations increase. UCU are asking for an increase in pay of at least inflation +2% or 12% whichever is higher.
Visit the SOAS UCU Twitter here.
What does the Marking and Assessment Boycott and ASOS entail?
Action Short of Strike is where staff take action different to a strike, this currently includes:
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working to contract l not covering for absent colleagues
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removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action
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not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action
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not undertaking any voluntary activities
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marking and assessment boycott.
The Marking and Assessment Boycott
UCU have stated the following “UCU members in higher education institutions which are part of the pay and working conditions dispute to cease undertaking all summative marking and associated assessment activities/duties. The boycott also covers assessment-related work such as exam invigilation and the processing of marks.”
You can expect it to:
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Cover all levels undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research. Including PhD final Vivas and MPhil to PhD progression
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Impact all methods of study including full-time, part-time and distance learning
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Impact all forms of assessment including traditional essay marking, laboratory and other practical assessments
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Include setting examinations and assessment questions, invigilating exams, marking and moderating paper/assessments, providing informal guidance/feedback to students relating to their likely marks of summative assessment, processing marks, record marks and communicating them to staff/students, attend or participate in exam boards.
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Impact plagiarism hearings and appeals
What is the SU’s stance on the Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB)?
During the Union Forums and the following Preferenda students will be asked to decide what the SU’s position should be in relation to the MAB
SOAS SU’s members have previously voted to support UCU members undertaking industrial action, this has included:
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Giving full and public support on industrial action undertaken by UCU and UNISON.
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Requesting that the SOAS Director and Chief Operating Officer lobby UUK and UCEA to end the pensions and pay and working conditions disputes respectively.
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Keeping students informed and how they can take action to influence these negotiations to a fair resolution for UCU members.
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Lobbying the university to ensure that any pay deducted is placed in a hardship fund for students.
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Supporting students during the strikes, providing welfare and advice for those who need it.
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Respecting the picket line.
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Developing, in coordination with SOAS UCU, UNISON and others, forms of solidarity action.
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Gaining assurances from SOAS Senior Management Team that no student will be adversely impacted by the strike when it comes to graduation and continuation in their studies.
Who decides staff members pay?
Pay negotiations take place through national pay bargaining process agreed between representatives from the trade unions (including UCU, Unison and two others) and UCEA (University and Colleges Employers Association), rather than at a local department or institution level. SOAS is a member of UCEA, and UCEA conduct pay negotiations on behalf of their member institutions. So, the decisions on pay come through UCEA, but their members are not passive bystanders to what UCEA do: UCEA “is the voice of HE employers on pay and reward” (from ‘our work’ on the UCEA website). Updates on the pay negotiations including the official letter from UCEA are online here; the UCU updates on negotiations are here. Updates from UCEA are here. However, around the UK institutions at a local level have increased staff pay through other methods. At Glasgow University they moved all staff up by one spinal point on the payscale. That meant a permanent pay increase while still being part of national pay bargaining structure. London Weighting is a portion of pay to mitigate against the high cost of living in London, and that is not part of national bargaining – it is decided locally by each individual institution. So increasing London Weighting is a SOAS-management decision.
What can I do to show my support to UCU members undertaking ASOS/MAB?
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Vote in the Preferenda which will set the SU’s stance on the MAB (voting Monday 22nd- Tuesday 30th May)
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Email the Director using UCU’s template
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Email your MP to put pressure on the university using UCU’s tempate
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Make a donation to the UCU fighting fund
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Share your support on social media and get involved with student groups who are supporting such as SOAS Solidarity
Will campus and the SU remain open during ASOS/MAB and should I come onto campus?
Yes, campus and the SU will remain open, and you should still come onto campus and attend/organise events. At this time, there is no strike action taking place and the campus is not being picketed.
What is the university doing to staff participating in ASOS/MAB?
SOAS have stated that they will withhold 100% of the pay of any employee undertaking a marking and assessment boycott continuously starting from the 20th April as this is considered a breach of contract. They have stated that any work undertaken by staff participating in the boycott will be done voluntarily and without entitlement to pay.
SOAS will not currently be taking action against staff undertaking the following forms of ASOS
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Working to contractual duties and not undertaking any voluntary activities.
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Not covering for absent colleagues.
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Not rescheduling classes and lectures cancelled due to strike action.
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Removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action.
Employers are able to make deductions from employee's pay when they participate in industrial action, if this action involves refusal to undertake contractual duties, in this case the marking and assessment boycott, as it breaches employees' contract of employment. This is considered partial performance and employers have a right to refuse to accept this and deduct up to 100% of pay in response. Partial performance is deemed continuous until the dispute ends which means that pay can be deducted for the duration, even on days where no marking would be taking place.
The universities that are currently deducting 100% of pay are SOAS, Westminster, Brighton, Leeds Trinity, Middlesex, Oxford Brooks, Portsmouth, Sheffield Hallam, St George’s (UOL), Suffolk, and others.
How will this impact me and what is the university doing in order to mitigate the impacts on students?
We currently do not know the scale of the marking and assessment boycott. Staff members do not need to tell the university if they are undertaking ASOS/MAB before they do so. Due to the university withholding 100% of pay to those participating in the MAB we anticipate that there may be further disruption, however the scale of this is not currently known.
The university’s Emergency Regulations for Taught Degrees have been put in place. This is to mitigate the impact of disruption to students, if part of these regulations are applied to you, you will be informed.
Will there be further strike action?
There could be. There is currently a mandate to undertake strike action and this could be called by UCU. If this happens UCU members will cease all forms of labour.
Will my exams and assessments go ahead and should I attend?
You should have been issued with your exam timetable and informed of any assessment deadlines. You should assume these will go ahead unless your department tells you otherwise. You must attend your exams/assessments and adhere to your hand in dates
What are my rights and where can I go for advice?
The Office for Students have issued the following guidance:
All students have a contractual relationship with their university/college, which means they are protected by consumer protection law. This means that universities and colleges must continue to offer the service they have promised to students, even during periods of industrial action.
Universities and colleges must also continue to comply with the OfS’s conditions of registration during any period of disruption, meaning they must maintain the quality and standards of their courses.
The steps different universities and colleges take to reduce the impact of strikes or other industrial action will vary depending on the type of disruption, which courses or learning resources are impacted and other factors. You might expect your university/college’s response to include the following:
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Your university/college should be proactive in resolving issues related to missed teaching. If teaching time is lost, it may be appropriate for catch-up teaching to be offered at a later time, missed course content to be delivered in a different way, or for partial refunds to be offered to affected students.
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Your university/college should take steps to ensure that you are not disadvantaged in assessment by any disruption. It might be appropriate for coursework deadlines to be extended or moved, or for certain topics to not be examined if they have not been delivered in time.
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Your university/college should explain clearly to you any changes made to how your course is delivered and how they will affect you. They should keep you informed of the impact of ongoing disruption and give you reasonable notice of any new arrangements.
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Universities and colleges should consider the needs of all students in responding to industrial action, particularly those who may be more affected than others, or may have difficulties accessing replacement learning.
If you have any questions or concerns about how ASOS/MAB will impact you please contact the SOAS SU Advice Caseworker at SM141@soas.ac.uk
What has happened since the strikes in Jan-March 2023?
USS Pension dispute has seen progress which has caused UCU to suspend ASOS in relation to this dispute, although the mandate to undertake industrial action in relation to the dispute remains in place and industrial action could restart should this change.
UCU reballotted members in March 2023 as the previous mandate was set to expire. UCU secured an additional mandate to undertake ASOS and strike action in relation to the USS Pension Dispute and the Pay and Working Conditions Dispute for a further 6 months.
MAB as a part of ASOS, previously ASOS has not included a Marking and Assessment Boycott. The Marking and Assessment Boycott was included as an option for ASOS during the reballot and the UCU Higher Education Committee decided to call a MAB starting from Thursday 20th April.
Industrial Action Jan-March 2023 Information
SOAS SU stands in solidarity with those undertaking strike action. On this page you can find out more information about the strikes, how you can support those undertaking strike action and how you might be affected.
What is UCU and why are they striking?
UCU is the University and College Union. It is a national union representing 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. Click here to go to the UCU website.
Most universities will have their own branch that represents the members at that university. Last year when UCU undertook a national ballot on whether to undertake industrial action UCU members at SOAS voted to undertake this action.
UCU members at SOAS are striking over pay and working conditions and the USS pension dispute.
Visit the SOAS UCU Twitter here.
What are UCU's demands in relation to the USS Pension dispute?
UCU members demands in relation to the USS pension dispute are:
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UCU members demand employers to revoke the massive cuts which they imposed on members of the USS pension scheme, and put pressure on USS to restore benefits to 2021 levels as soon as possible.
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UCU also want UUK to put strong pressure on USS to ensure that the next and all subsequent valuations of the financial health of the scheme to be evidence-based and are moderately prudent.
You can find out more about the pension dispute here.
What are UCU's demands in relation to the Pay and Working Conditions dispute?
UCU members demands in relation to pay and working conditions are:
You can find out more about the pay and working conditions dispute here.
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an increase to all spine points on the national pay scale of at least inflation (RPI) + 2% or 12% whichever is the higher
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nationally-agreed action, using an intersectional approach, to close the gender, ethnic and disability pay gaps
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an agreed framework to eliminate precarious employment practices by universities
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nationally agreed action to address excessive workloads and unpaid work, to include addressing the impact that excessive workloads are having on workforce stress and ill-health
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for the standard weekly, full-time contract of employment to be 35 hours, with no loss of pay.
What is UNISON and why are they striking?
UNISON is a national union representing more than 1.3 million members across public services in the public and private sectors. SOAS UNISON branch is the recognised trade union for professional and support staff at SOAS. Click here to go to the SOAS UNISON branch website.
UNISON members at SOAS and a number of other UNISON branches at other higher education institutions have voted to take strike action over the 2022-23 pay dispute. Click here to go to the SOAS UNISON branch website.
What days will there be strike action?
UCU have called on their members to participate in 18 days of non-consecutive strike action across February and March. UCU Members will be participating in national strike action on the following days:
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Week 3 - Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February
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Week 4 - Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February
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Week 5 - Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 March
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Week 6 - Thursday 16 and Friday 17 March
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Week 7 - Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March
UNISON Members will be participating in strike action on the following days:
What is Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) and when will it be happening?
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What days will there be strike action?
UCU commenced Action Short of a Strike on Wednesday 23rd of November and will continue until further notice at institutions across England, Wales and Scotland.
Action short of a strike consists of the following until further notice:
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working to contract
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not covering for absent colleagues
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removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action
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not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action
As of January 2023, the union has not called for a marking and assessment boycott as part of action short of a strike however this could change, and UCU have stated that they are intending to ballot their members on whether to hold a boycott.
Will my Lecturers, Tutors, Advisors and other academics who support my learning tell me if they are going on strike?
Maybe, staff members undertaking strike action do not need to tell SOAS in advance of undertaking action. We know that academics normally will tell their students and for wellbeing reasons the university have asked members of staff who are striking to let students know via Moodle or Department Offices.
Does SOAS SU support the strikers?
Yes, SOAS SU has a long history of supporting industrial action. This mandate has been consistently upheld by students in democratic decision-making bodies, mostly recently in 2021 when students voted to stand in solidarity with both UCU and UNISON.
SOAS SU is supporting the strike by:
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Giving full and public support on industrial action undertaken by UCU and UNISON.
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Requesting that the SOAS Director and Chief Operating Officer lobby UUK and UCEA to end the pensions and pay and working conditions disputes respectively.
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Keeping students informed and how they can take action to influence these negotiations to a fair resolution for UCU members.
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Lobbying the university to ensure that any pay deducted is placed in a hardship fund for students.
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Supporting students during the strikes, providing welfare and advice for those who need it.
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Respecting the picket line.
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Developing, in coordination with SOAS UCU, UNISON and others, forms of solidarity action.
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Gaining assurances from SOAS Senior Management Team that no student will be adversely impacted by the strike when it comes to graduation and continuation in their studies.
How can I support staff who are striking?
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Write to the SOAS Senior Leadership Team, UUK and UCEA asking them to meet the demands of the unions.
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Get involved in events, such as teach-outs on days that strike action is taking place. You can keep up to date with any events on the SOAS UCU Twitter.
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Get involved in SOAS Justice for Workers (a student-staff campaign).
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Follow UCU and UNISON on social media and get involved in the digital picket.
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Let your lecturers and other students know that you are supporting the strike.
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If you can, don’t cross the picket line
What is a picket line, and can I join it?
A picket line is a form of protest. It is a boundary established by staff outside of their place of work in order to increase awareness and support for their cause, this will include asking people not to enter campus in solidarity with those on strike. At SOAS the picket line will likely be by the precinct during working hours on strike days. Keep an eye on the SOAS UCU Twitter for more information.
In accordance with the Code of Practice on Picketing students who are not also a member of UCU cannot be part of the picket lines as an official picket. This means that they cannot be identified as an official picket would be, for example with a UCU armband. Students cannot engage in the activity of an official picket, including persuading employees of the workplace to not enter. They also can’t physically prevent someone from entering their place of work or study – or act in a way which would constitute a breach of the peace.
Students should also be mindful of SOAS’s Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
Students can hold solidarity demonstrations near picket lines and engage with other students about the issues of the strike. You can also stand with staff on or near a picket line, but it should be clear you are not an official picket – it’s best to have a chat to the picket line supervisor (who will be easily identifiable) when you get there to say you are there to show solidarity and ask what is most useful for you to do! This could include bringing picketers a hot drink to show your support. There may also be other organised activities near the pickets that you can join such as teach-outs.
Will the strikes be disruptive?
Probably, the purpose of the strike is to stop the normal function of the workplace. This means that many of your lecturers and seminars will likely be cancelled. You might also find a reduction in the number of support staff available on strike days.
By going on strike UCU members are making a case for greater investment in staff to the university, UUK and UCEA. The aim is not to create disruption for students and strike action is often a last resort when all other avenues of negotiation have been explored.
Can I still come onto campus during the strike?
Yes, while the SU encourages students to show solidarity with those undertaking strike action by not crossing the picket line on strike days, campus will still be open including the JCR.
If you do come onto campus you will likely need to cross the picket line. It is your personal choice as to whether you want to cross the picket line. You must not be prevented from crossing the picket line.
What SU services, facilities, outlets and support will be available on strike days?
SU spaces will be accessible during strike days for those that need to come onto campus, however the SU shop and Coffee Pod will be closed.
In solidarity with those undertaking strike action, SU Officers and Staff will normally be working off-site on strike days. However, you can still access them for support and guidance online.
Can I still attend/run a club or society event during the strike?
Yes, you may choose to cancel or not attend events that are taking place on campus during strike days during working hours, or you may choose to move events to off campus venues in solidarity with those undertaking strike action.
If your club and society would like to rearrange any bookings to outside of working hours, or to another day please follow the normal room bookings procedure.
Can I still access support services during the strike?
Yes, support services will still be available during the period of strike action, however some of their activities may be disrupted due to the strikes. You may also choose to access these services remotely during strike days in solidarity with those undertaking strike action. You can also contact the SOAS SU Advice Caseworker for any support.
SU Officers and Staff will still be working through out strike action, you can contact us by clicking the links.
Do staff on strike get paid?
No, when staff go on strike they forfeit their pay for each day that they undertake strike action. This is a very difficult decision for those undertaking action and is often why strike action is considered a last resort after all other avenues of negotiation have been explored.
I am on a Student Visa, will I be penalised for not attending classes?
If your class is cancelled due to industrial action, in line with UKVI guidance this will not impact your attendance and will not count as an unauthorised attendance.
Can I complain and get a refund due to strike action?
It is not standard for universities to provide refunds due to strike action as fees cover a wide range of services and facilities. If you feel that your learning has been impacted, you may be entitled to compensation by making a complaint to the university. We recommend that you keep a detailed record of how you have been impacted by the strike, this could include your wellbeing, student experience and learning. You should keep evidence including the number of teaching hours missed, any administrative and access issues, access to online resources, any associated costs, the impact on your progression, as well as mental and physical health. If you wish the SOAS SU Caseworker can support you with making a complaint to the university.
If after making a complaint to the university you are dissatisfied with the outcome, you may escalate this to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. There is no guarantee that compensation will be awarded but the OIA have in the past awarded in favour of students.
What about my assessment deadlines, mitigating circumstances and exams?
The University has produced the FAQ’s which can be accessed here.
What if I don't support the strike?
As the SU we stand in solidarity with those striking but we recognise that not all students do.
Regardless of your position we are still here to support you, this may include making a complaint to the university for compensation or with issues you experience at the picket lines. You can contact the SOAS SU Advice Caseworker for any support.
Does SOAS have the power to grant higher wages to staff and faculty?
Pay negotiations take place through national pay bargaining process agreed between representatives from the trade unions (including UCU, Unison and two others) and UCEA (University and Colleges Employers Association), rather than at a local department or institution level.SOAS is a member of UCEA, and UCEA conduct pay negotiations on behalf of their member institutions. So, the decisions on pay come through UCEA, but their members are not passive bystanders to what UCEA do: UCEA “is the voice of HE employers on pay and reward” (from ‘our work’ on the UCEA website).Updates on the pay negotiations including the official letter from UCEA are online here; the UCU updates on negotiations are here. Updates from UCEA are here.However, around the UK institutions at a local level have increased staff pay through other methods. At Glasgow University they moved all staff up by one spinal point on the payscale. That meant a permanent pay increase while still being part of national pay bargaining structure. London Weighting is a portion of pay to mitigate against the high cost of living in London, and that is not part of national bargaining – it is decided locally by each individual institution. So increasing London Weighting is a SOAS-management decision.
How can I give the SU feedback on my experience during the strike?
Students can email su@soas.ac.uk with general comments and feedback. If you want to raise a welfare issue or concern please email the SU Advice Caseworker at SM141@soas.ac.uk. If you have any concerns that have not been answered here, please add it to our
form
.
Industrial Action 2022 Information
The academic and professional services workers unions on campus, UCU and UNISON, are taking part in national strike action over a number of days in early 2022:
- Monday 14th February - Friday 18th February
- Monday 21st February - Tuesday 22nd February
- Monday 28th February - Wednesday 2nd March
- Monday 21st March - Friday 25th March
SOAS Students' Union stands in solidary with UCU and UNISON, as voted for by our members.
To help support our students during these strikes we've created and collated a number of resources which we encourage you to check out below.
2022 Strikes Booklet
Our 2022 Strikes Booklet is a great resource to learn more about the UCU and UNISON strikes! Read through it to find out:
- Alternative study spaces
- Alternative faith spaces
- Asnwers to some frequently asked questions
- Why are staff striking?
- What does striking and picketing mean and look like in practice?
- How will the strikes impact students?
- How can students support the strikes?
2022 Strikes FAQs
In addition to the 2022 Strikes Booklet, we've put together a 2022 Strikes FAQ document to help answer some of the questions you might have about the strikes.
If your question isn't answered in either our booklet or FAQ, use our Padlet below to ask us directly!
Share Your Questions, Concerns and Suggestions About the Strikes
We know that there can be a lot of uncertainty during strike periods, so we've set up a SU Strikes Padlet for you to:
- Ask us any questions you have (e.g. "will there be access to the library during strike days?")
- Raise any concerns you have (e.g. "I have to go into SOAS on a strike day, will I be okay crossing the picket?")
- Suggest things which may help other students during strike dates (e.g. alternative study spaces)
2022 Strikes Teach Out Schedule
On strike days we are organising teach outs on the picket line so that students can come along and learn more about different topics while simultanesouly showing support to strikes.
View the full teach out schedule now!
Write to SOAS Management
Angry about the strike? Write a letter to SOAS senior management asking them to take action to stop the strike!
Use our Strike Email Template to show your solidarity and demand they take action.
NUS Student Walkout / Teach In
The National Union of Students (NUS) is planning a Student Walkout / Teach In.
Not sure what a Walkout / Teach In is? The NUS is describing this event as: 'We’re tired of asking for scraps from these governments: we all want to see a radically different education, and we want to build a movement that can win it. That means we need to build the type of education we want first – and that’s what we’ll do here.'
We can all fight for a better education system!
Photos From Term 1 Strikes
Strikes and picket lines might sound scary or intense, but they're actually great community building moments.
Check out these photos from the term 1 strikes to get a better idea of what you can expect if you come down to the picket line on strike days.
This webpage was last updated on: 23 May 2023 11:43