Welcome to The Open University Branch of the University and College Union's website (OUBUCU)

November 2022 strike action

Following the amazing 84% YES vote in the recent ballot, the UCU has announced the biggest strike action in our union’s history, on Thursday 24th, Friday 25th and Wednesday 30th November.

There will be in-person pickets at OU offices in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Milton Keynes and Nottingham on the mornings of 24th, 25th and 30th November (7.30 or 8am to 9.30am).  We will be joining UCU colleagues from other branches and unions from around the UK for a rally in London on the 30th November. (Meet at Kings Cross train station, 1pm). 

Industrial action is the most effective tool we have in our fight for the future of higher education, and we hope to see you at the in-person pickets – remember, the longer the picket line, the shorter the strike.

All the information you need about the strike, about pickets, rallies and events, and about the Action Short of Strike which starts 23rd November (18th November in Northern Ireland), is or will be right here on our website.

The UCU national website is the place for detailed information about why we’re taking strike.

If you’re not yet a member, it’s never too late. Join us here!  Finally, if you use Twitter, be sure to follow us @oubucu and national UCU @ucu. 

Our current campaigns

We have campaigns on both the USS Pension scheme and the Four Fights: pay, casualisation, workload and equality - these campaigns have been merged into the WE ARE RISING strap line. 

• Information for Students page (about the industrial action)
• Information for Associate Lecturers
• Frequently asked questions including an Out of office message
• Pickets, rallies and events page
• Hardship fund page has been updated and the guidelines and application form will be added shortly
• Action short of a strike (ASOS) 
• Templates you can use for emails to students, out-of-office messages, etc.

About the branch

If you are employed in an academic (including Associate Lecturer), Academic-Related, Research or Research Student role by The Open University, UCU is the Union for YOU.

If you have a problem at work then we have trained caseworkers who can support you - view our "get help" page. 

Nationally, the University and College Union (UCU) represents over 110,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK.

If you want to join UCU, there's information on our Membership page or go to the UCU website. 

View the Open University's accessibility statement.