The Open University branch of the University and College Union
We have added guidelines, FAQs and an application form for the branch hardship fund to this page.
Members should look at the UCU Fighting Fund rules (not this fund is capped at 11 days payments) as well as the local scheme to determine what overall support may be available to them.
The hardship fund offers 3 rates the OU UCU members can claim for each day of strike action from the hardship:
You must claim from the fighting fund before claiming from the hardship fund.
All rates are limited such that the total amount claimed from both funds is no more than your total deductions for strike action.
Branch hardship fund guidelines
We asked the OU to spread deductions for the February and March 2022 action over multiple months, this request was denied. We did successfully get the OU to agree to not deduct from members in December for the December 2021 action. Therefore, deductions are expected to be as follows:
For the December 2021 3 strike days:
For the February/March 2022 12 strike days
We don't yet know when the deductions for the 7 days in March upcoming will be yet.
Please fill in the application form below, and include a copy or screenshot of the relevant payslips and return them to ucu-hardship-applications. This application form covers all three waves of action up-to 27th March. You do not need to have had pay deducted for all waves to make a claim and can use the claim form for subsequent deductions.
We encourage you if able to donate to our Branch Hardship fund. You can do this by:
Phone us on 01908 6(53069) or Deb Shann on Skype for Business or Teams
Call into Room 015, Wilson C block, Walton Hall