Friday’s Update and further information on Strike Action and ASOS

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We finished our week with windy pickets and a rally that included both Julie Kelley, our regional officer and Rachael Maskell MP. Both gave us inspiring speeches and finished the week with a bang. UCU University of York is out on strike and making a difference. After a week of staff and student solidarity we can have a weekend of rest and reflection.

Our fight continues on Monday and Tuesday next week. See you on the pickets.

We start at 08:30am at each of the four picketing sites:

  • The Retreat Entrance
  • Newton Way (Behind James College, near to the sports centre)
  • Campus East (next to the bus stops)
  • Kings Manor (in town)

At 10:30am we have a rally at Heslington Hall. Anyone who wants to can speak.

Note – these are changes from the times advertised last week.

We encourage the bringing of cakes, hot drinks, dogs, children, anything that makes noise (e.g. pots and pans) and Vice Chancellors to the picket line. It all adds to the atmosphere and from experience, it is an invaluable chance to talk with colleagues from other departments and places in the university that you don’t interact with on a day-to-day basis.

Branch strike diary – to be updated in each day’s email.

Details also placed on the branch Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/UcuYork (note, for those who don’t know Twitter, you don’t need an account to view the feed.)

Monday 21st February 2022

  • Pickets and rally as advertised above. This includes a visit by Julie Kelley, our regional UCU officer.
  • Teach out organised by the Politics Department: ‘Classism and Cost of Living Crisis’.
    1300-1600 at the Crescent Community Venue in York, on the Crescent, off Blossom Street.

This event is in two parts, each with a panel and a chance for Q and As.

Tuesday 22nd February 2022

  • Pickets and rally as advertised above. This includes a visit by Julie Kelley, our regional UCU officer.

Note – all teach outs are open to all, including UCU members, non-member staff, students and the general public.

Strike and ASOS information

We have been asked a number of questions about strike action and ASOS.

  1. Can GTAs claim for lost earnings when they strike?
    You can claim from the national and local funds. See our website for details. Nobody should cross the picket due to money concerns. https://york.web.ucu.org.uk/local-hardship-fund-february-march-2020/
  2. When I come back to work will I need to restore access to lecture and teaching materials for students? Will I need to reschedule teaching?
    No. Our ASOS includes the provision to not provide materials for teaching sessions that are lost due to the strike. Also, all teaching lost in the strike is just that, lost, there will not be rescheduling. This includes supervisions.
  3. Do I need to tell my employer that I have been on strike?
    Ultimately yes, but not until we go back after each bout of action. This means from Wednesday 23rd this time. HR have said that if you report being absent this week by Friday 18th February then the deductions for this will be made on your February wages.

If you have any other questions about the strike or action short of a strike, please email us. We also want to hear about any actions by management in relation to the strike and action short of a strike.

See you on the pickets and solidarity,

The UCU UOY Executive