Strikes 2023

 

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. 

 

 

 

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: 

• Week 1 - Wednesday 1 February   

• Week 2 - Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February  

• Week 3 - Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February  

• Week 4 - Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February  

• Week 5 - Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 March  

• Week 6 - Thursday 16 and Friday 17 March  

• Week 7 - Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March 

UNISON Members will be participating in strike action on the following days: 

• Week 1 - Wednesday 1st February,  

• Week 2 - Thursday 9th February and Friday 10th February 

 

 

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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: 

• working to contract 

• not covering for absent colleagues 

• 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 

• not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action 

• not undertaking any voluntary activities. 

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.  

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

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: 

1. Giving full and public support on industrial action undertaken by UCU and UNISON. 

2. Requesting that the SOAS Director and Chief Operating Officer lobby UUK and UCEA to end the pensions and pay and working conditions disputes respectively.  

3. Keeping students informed and how they can take action to influence these negotiations to a fair resolution for UCU members. 

4. Lobbying the university to ensure that any pay deducted is placed in a hardship fund for students.  

5. Supporting students during the strikes, providing welfare and advice for those who need it. 

6. Respecting the picket line. 

7. Developing, in coordination with SOAS UCU, UNISON and others, forms of solidarity action. 

8. 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. 

 

 

 

1. Write to the SOAS Senior Leadership Team, UUK and UCEA asking them to meet the demands of the unions.  

2. 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. 

3. Get involved in SOAS Justice for Workers (a student-staff campaign). 

4. Follow UCU and UNISON on social media and get involved in the digital picket. 

5. Let your lecturers and other students know that you are supporting the strike. 

6. If you can, don’t cross the picket line 

 

 

 

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.  

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

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.  

 

 

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.  

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

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.  

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

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.  

 

 

The University has produced the FAQ’s which can be accessed here. 

 

 

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. 

 

 

If you wish to stand in solidarity with those on strike by not crossing the picket line on strike days, but still want to find a quiet place to work why not head to: 

1. British Library 

2. Wellcome Library 

3. Holborn Public Library 

4. National Art Library 

5. The BFI Reuben Library 

6. Barbican Library 

Click on the links to find out more about opening times, location and admission.  

 

 

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. 

 

 

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

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