Imortant Notice
Dear Student,
Across the UK members of the academic staff union (the University & College Union or UCU) have voted to take strike action in relation to proposed changes to pension arrangements for members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, and on pay and working conditions.
This is primarily a national dispute and similar action is taking place at around 50 universities across the UK. At Dundee, from results issued by the UCU, 168 members of staff voted for strike action, out of 414 union members who were entitled to vote (239 votes were cast).
This action will take place from November 25 to December 4 and comprises eight days of strikes.
It is likely that there will be some impact on you as students, and the University has put together some advice in the form of frequently asked questions to help you understand how you may be affected and what you should do during the strike action. You can see these below and they will also be available via MyDundee and will be kept up to date with further information as the action progresses.
The Union has also voted to take action short of a strike continuously from 25 November 2019 and concluding no later than 29 April 2020. UCU says action short of a strike will consist of its members working to contract; not covering for absent colleagues; not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action; not undertaking any voluntary activities; not sharing materials relating to lectures cancelled as a result of strike action.
Since this is primarily a national dispute around pay, conditions and pensions, it can only be resolved through negotiation at a national level. The University is part of a national bargaining forum which determines pay and pensions across most of the UK university sector.
While continuing to hope that industrial action can be averted, the University is committed to doing all we can to minimise its effects on you and on your learning.
If you have questions about your own situation, please make contact with staff within your School, who will be able to help with specific information relating to your programme of study.
With best wishes
Professor Blair Grubb
Vice-Principal (Education)
Frequently Asked Questions:
When will the strike action take place?
The strike action is due to take place on the following dates:
November: Monday 25 November to Friday 29 November inclusive
December: Monday 2 December to Wednesday 4 December inclusive
Which staff will be on strike?
It is the nature of strike action that we are unable to say which staff will take strike action in advance of that action. Staff who choose to take action may tell you that they will do so, others may not. The University does not know which members of staff are members of the union, although the University does know that 168 staff voted in favour of taking strike action.
What will happen?
Staff taking part in the strike action will not turn up to work on the strike days. As a result teaching and learning activities scheduled to take place on those days may be affected and therefore may not take place. However, we anticipate that the vast majority of classes and student contact time will proceed as normal.
Should I turn up to classes on the strike days?
Yes.
If it is known in advance that a member of staff will be striking, your School will make every attempt to tell you in advance or as soon as possible on the strike days as they can to avoid unnecessary travel, but this may not always be possible. For classes that take place, attendance will be taken in the normal way.
Should I continue to submit written assignments?
Yes. You should continue to submit all written work as set out in your student handbook or as agreed with the School or your lecturers. If there are any changes to deadlines, your School will notify you.
Will the missed lectures, seminars, tutorials, or other student contact time be rescheduled?
It may or may not be possible to reschedule classes and contact time, and as part of the strike action, the union has said that lecturers will not reschedule classes that have not taken place as a result of strike action. However, you should look out for communications from your School in the event that any of this time is able to be rescheduled.
For some subjects, it may mean that lab time, studio time or workshop time might be restricted during the strike action, and your School will communicate with you to let you know if there are restrictions.
What can I do to make sure I do not miss out on appropriate learning?
If your module is affected by strike action, you should ensure you engage with any online materials that might be available through My Dundee as well as with any recommended reading that you may have been provided with by your lecturers. Your School will provide you with any additional material that it believes would be helpful and will be considering ways to ensure that any impact on your learning from the strike action is minimised. The Library & Learning Centre, along with the libraries at Ninewells and Kirkcaldy and the Duncan of Jordanstone library, will be open throughout the strike days as normal.
Will the strike action affect my exams?
At the current time, the strike action should not have an impact on the Semester 1 exam diet which runs in the weeks beginning December 9 and December 16. Your School is working to ensure that the strike action has as minimal an impact as possible on your ability to perform well in the exam diet and on your learning more generally. Your School may be in touch with you about this with further information. Since your School will know what classes, if any, did not take place, it will be able to reflect on this when it comes to assessment, and exam boards will take into account the effects of the action when reaching
their decisions. For this reason, you do not need to submit mitigating circumstances in relation to the strike action.
If there are class exams or assessed presentations, these may be affected, but again, the School will be in touch to let you know if and when these will take place.
Will any other services be affected?
Some Professional Services staff may also be on strike, but at this stage we do not believe there will be significant impact on the University’s ability to deliver those services. The Main Library, along with the libraries at Ninewells and Kirkcaldy and the Duncan of Jordanstone library, will be open as normal. Some information literacy tuition and guidance appointments may be unavailable.
Will I be able to claim compensation for the classes that do not take place?
The University’s terms and conditions make clear that in the event of industrial action compensation is not payable, as such action is outwith the University’s control. At the moment, the University does not know which classes will not take place, but individual Schools are working hard to devise ways of ensuring that any impact on your learning is minimised as much as possible, and that you continue to have access to materials to support your independent study.
If my Lecturer is on strike on one of the days, can I assume that they will be on strike for all days?
No. Members of staff who participate in strike action may do so on only one, on some or on all of the days indicated for action. You cannot assume that just because a member of staff takes strike action on one day that they will do so on one of the other days. You should treat each strike day separately, unless you have received explicit instruction from the School that a class will not take place.