On Wednesday and Thursday this week we had a strike and a picket line at the Highfield and Avenue campuses. We are very grateful for the members who showed up to support this current set of issues we are disputing. We are also very grateful for the members of the public, crucial to support, who came and asked questions and took pamphlets.
The picket lines are not only a great way to show support for number of issues that you might find important, they also allow for greater sense of communication and community within the union that is crucial to its continued ability to help its members. In truth, the idea of the union is based on strength in numbers and even if some people have different opinions and ideas, they are more than welcome to come and share them among the union and that only makes it stronger. We chatted to many people – students, staff and the public – who in the main were supportive of the action. It is a shame that a very small minority of non-union colleagues were not quite so polite in their engagement with us.
Possibly the most polite picket line in history just accused of being 'like the miners'. @SouthamptonUCU @ucu #fairpayinhe
— John Langley (@GEEEJAYELL) May 26, 2016
Support for the action was mirrored across the country – check out some of the action here.
We thought you’d be interested to learn why members at Southampton support the strike:
“After 10 years of being on casualised contracts, I’ve had enough”
“I believe that collective action is the best way to protect all of our working conditions”
“To make sure pay is in line with inflation”
“To explore in closer detail whether the national gender pay gap is reflected in this university”
“To end the complete disparity in pay between the workforce and the senior executives”
You can continue to show your support for the industrial action by working to contract. As staff at the University at L4+ have no set hours we are asking that you work no more than 37 hours a week – check out our FAQs from para 21.
We hope that our action will force the employers to return to the negotiating table. If not, UCU will begin preparations for strike action on 18 August, the day when A Level results are released in England, as well as a setting and marking boycott to commence at an agreed point during the autumn term.
Many thanks again for all your support.
