Industrial action 25-29 September

Following a vigorous debate at a full branch meeting on 20 September, the branch voted not to stand down strike action next week. We are asking all members to observe the strike action from Monday 25th to Friday 29th September. 

view UCU press release, 6 September

There will be picket lines at the OU campus in Milton Keynes, the OU offices in Nottingham, Manchester and Edinburgh on all 5 days. There will be a picket line at the OU office in Cardiff on Monday 25th September. 

• Walton Hall, Milton Keynes picket line, Monday 25 to Friday 29 September, 8am to 9.30am
• The OU in the East Midlands, Nottingham picket line, Monday 25 to Friday 29 September, 8am to 9.30am
• The OU in the North West, Manchester picket line, Monday 25 to Friday 29 September, 8am to 9.30am
• The OU in Scotland, Edinburgh picket line, Monday 25 to Friday 29 September, 8am to 9.30am
• The OU in Wales, Cardiff picket line, Monday 25 September, 8am to 9.30am

Online Programme for the strike days - there is a full programme of activity online for members next week, with external speakers still being confirmed. All meetings are on Zoom. Meeting requests have been sent and we will send a list of links by email to all OU UCU members. 

Monday 25 September 2023

11am - 12noon meeting for Getting the vote out (GTVO) volunteers (contacting members to see if they have voted in the ballot, contact ucu@open.ac.uk if interested).
12:30pm -1:30pm This is how we win! Speaker from GMB is confirmed with others tbc
3pm - 4pm Introduction to negotiation led by Lydia Richards, UCU Regional Official

Tuesday 26 September

12:30pm -1:30pm Member discussion: What are your concerns? For example -- Campus 2030, hybrid working, AL Contract implementation, budget cuts?

Wednesday 27 September

12:30pm - 1:30pm The bigger picture -- the economic and political context of the HE disputes. Confirmed speaker Vicky Blake, past president of UCU and secretary UCU Leeds. Other speakers tbc

Thursday 28 September

2pm - 3pm Member discussion: How can we respond collectively to the university's current direction of travel and the issues identified in the 26 September meeting?

Friday 29 September

1:30pm - 3pm Building the union: how do all of us together take practical action to remake OU and the HE sector?

The new UCU ballot is open, please return your ballot paper. Ballots have been sent out to secure a new mandate for the pay and conditions dispute. The more people vote early, the more likely we are to get a strong ballot result. 

To report that you've voted (or to request a replacement ballot) please use this UCU form: I have voted form.

view UCU press release, 11 September