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The national University and College Union (UCU) has announced that industrial action will take place inÌýa number ofÌýuniversities across the UKÌýfrom 1 DecemberÌýto support a dispute about payÌýand pensions.ÌýAtÌýÂ鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾,Ìýstaff will be striking over pay withÌýthreeÌýdays of strike action,ÌýalongsideÌýa period of continuous ‘action short of strike’Ìý(ASOS).ÌýUCU has met all the legal requirements for calling lawfulÌýindustrial action.ÌýNot all Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ staff are membersÌýof the unionÌýand not everyone will be impacted by theÌýstrike or ASOS.Ìý

You can find out more about what this meansÌýfor you below.Ìý

When will the industrial action take place?ÌýÌý

• Strike action will take place on Wednesday 1, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December 2021ÌýÌý

• Action short of strike isÌýplannedÌýtoÌýrun continuously, startingÌýon 1 December andÌýfinishingÌýno later thanÌý22ÌýMay 2022Ìý

What does strike action mean?ÌýÌý

Strike action is whenÌýstaffÌýrefuse toÌýwork.ÌýAt universities, this includesÌýnotÌýdoing any work-related activity, such as teaching students, marking coursework, attending meetings, sending emails related to work and carrying out administrative tasks. It also includes not preparingÌýfor workÌýscheduled afterÌýtheÌýmember returns from strike.Ìý

Striking staffÌýmay create a picket lineÌýby standingÌýoutside their workplaceÌýto tell people why they areÌýtaking part in industrial actionÌýand ask them not to cross the line.ÌýÌý

What is action short of strikeÌý(ASOS)?ÌýÌý

Action short of strike is when staffÌýtake other action,Ìýsuch asÌýlimiting someÌýwork-relatedÌýactivities.ÌýUCU hasÌýconfirmedÌýthat theÌýplannedÌýaction short of strikeÌýwill consist of staff only working their contracted hours and duties and not volunteering to do more.ÌýÌý

What does this mean for me?ÌýÌý

It is difficult to predict the impact of this period of industrial action.ÌýÌýÌý

OnÌýthe threeÌýstrike daysÌýyour classes and lecturesÌýcould beÌýcancelled.ÌýYou may also find thatÌýlibraries,Ìýoffices and support services areÌýclosed orÌýnot fully staffedÌýandÌýso opening times and services mightÌýchange at short notice.ÌýWhen you are on campus, you may seeÌýpicket linesÌýmade up ofÌýstriking staffÌýoutside Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾Ìýbuildings. They may be handing out information and they may ask you not to cross their picket line.ÌýÌý

Striking staff on picket linesÌýare not allowed to preventÌýstudents, or any staff who are not taking part in the strike,Ìýfrom comingÌýonto campus or entering any Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ buildings.ÌýÌýÌý

How can you find out whether your classes are affected?Ìý

Striking staff do not have to tell Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ in advance of their intention to strike, but your department will try to inform you about changes to the teaching schedule through the usual channels,Ìýi.e.Ìýemail and Moodle.Ìý

Throughout the period of action, you should:Ìý

• Keep a close eye on your Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ emails and look out for Moodle page announcements. Ìý

• Stay informed by following the links in this update and looking out for announcements in the media.Ìý

What support is available if I miss out on teaching due to staff taking part in industrial action?ÌýÌý

Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÌýwillÌýtry to minimise the disruption to your learning as much as possible. WeÌýwill share more information aboutÌýwhat additional supportÌýis available toÌýstudents affected byÌýthe industrial actionÌýin early December.ÌýÌý

Further information and supportÌý

Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ is committed to supportingÌýstudentsÌýduring this period, with a range of services available. A more detailed list of FAQs can be found on the Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Students website.Ìý

Please contact student-industrialaction@ucl.ac.uk if you have further questions that cannot be answeredÌýby your department.Ìý

If youÌýare worried about the impactÌýindustrial actionÌýmightÌýhave on yourÌýmental health and wellbeing, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾'s Support and WellbeingÌýteamÌýprovidesÌýa safe, confidential and non-judgemental spaceÌýforÌýyouÌýtoÌýdiscuss any issues that concern or affect you. Ìý

To find out more andÌýget in touch,Ìýplease visit the Support and WellbeingÌýwebpagesÌýorÌýcontact us through askÂ鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøվ .Ìý

You can also find out what Students’ Union Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ is doing to support students during this period of industrial action onÌý.Ìý