UCU strike: There are four picket lines in operation on strike days (25th November to 4 December)

On campus these will be located near to the Main entrance (7.00am to 10.30pm), the South Building (7.00am to 1.00pm) and Quarry Road (7.00am to 1.00pm) along with a fourth at the Virgil Building (7.00am to 1.00pm). Volunteers are needed for the picket lines. Please respond directly to me with dates and times, as Branch Secretary.

Useful strike action links:

• UCU useful strike information including action FAQ/Working to Contract/Explain action to Students
• UCU HE disputes: industrial action FAQs
• 2019 Strike handbook for UCU activists – Represents the experience of many individual UCU members, but is not an official UCU document.
• Bath Strike on: Teach Out’ page is also now live here: https://www.facebook.com/StrikeOnTeachOut/ Updates to follow.
• Bath UCU strike Instagram account it’s @ucubath2
• Bath Uni strike Facebook area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170408430263321/

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It was heartening to see so many in attendance at today’s branch meeting to discuss the announced strike action. Building on that momentum and strength of feeling, we want to start the process of preparation for the strike by encouraging members to volunteer take  part on one of the four picket lines in operation on strike days. On campus these will be located near to the main entrance, the South Building and Quarry Road along with a fourth at the Virgil Building (all running from 7.00am to 12.00pm).

To volunteer,  providing dates and times you can be on the USS and pay and conditions strike picket lines for the Main Gate, South Gate, Quarry road and Virgil. . We recommend four picket line duties of two hours where possible, early times are particularly welcome! Please respond directly to me, as Branch Secretary.

In case you have never joined a picket line before, the intention is simply to inform and persuade people of the validity and strength of our grievance.  This means engaging with others to obtain and communicate information in a peaceful manner and if possible persuade them not to cross the picket line. Picket supervisors are appointed to help co-ordinate activity and leaflets will be available to hand out.

UCU advises that pickets should be visible and active, with official picket signs clearly displayed. So we hope to have an strong turnout, as previously!

University staff don’t want to strike for fair pensions and pay, but we’re being forced to

This week, as UCU members across the country vote on whether to take industrial action over our own pay and conditions, Junior Doctors will begin an “all out” strike, including in emergency services, for the first time in the history of the NHS.

Over the weekend the government rejected calls from across the political spectrum to return to negotiations and declared that they will continue to impose a new contract on doctors from August this year. Junior Doctors and the British Medical Association have said that the new contract is unsafe for patients, unfair and discriminatory for staff and have described it as representing “an existential danger to the NHS”.

Bath UCU Committee has passed a policy to support the Junior Doctors and their campaign, and with so much at stake, we have organised an event to ask:

Why are a group of professionals dedicated to the well-being of their patients resorting to such drastic action, what does this mean for our NHS, and how should we respond?

EVENT: What’s Up Doc?!

Bath UCU are pleased to host Dr Ed Mew, a Junior Doctor at Bath Royal United Hospital, who will give his perspective on the dispute and strike.
Time: Tuesday 25^th April, 13:15-14:05
Venue: 3 East 2.4.
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/238487703178660/

All union members, other staff and students welcome – please forward this email to your colleagues and invite your students.

If you cannot attend, but want to know more about the Junior Doctors dispute and/or support their campaign, see this post from Bath Trades Union Council.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: UCU Industrial Action Ballot

There are just five working days until the members’ ballot closes:

1. If you have already received your ballot paper, please fill it in and post today.
2. If you have not received a ballot paper, you can order a replacement here.
3. If you have already voted, encourage others to do the same – email ucu-sec@bath.ac.uk for more info or collect materials for your department at the meeting tomorrow.

For the latest news on the ongoing dispute between university employers and higher education trade unions see the national UCU website and Bath UCU blog.