The Students’ Union supports the right of university staff to take industrial action and recognises that strike action is often a last resort taken when staff feel they have exhausted other avenues to raise concerns about pay, working conditions, workload, job security, and the future of higher education.
We value the contribution that university staff make to the student experience every day and recognise that staff wellbeing, fair treatment, and good working conditions are closely linked to the quality of education and support that students receive. When staff raise concerns about their working conditions, these issues can also be matters of importance to students.
We understand that opinions on industrial action may differ across the student body, and that students and officers may choose to engage with strikes in different ways depending on their own views and experiences. Students may see some Students’ Union officers attending picket lines in solidarity with staff, while others may choose not to. Attendance at picket lines remains a personal decision for individual officers rather than an expectation placed upon them in their official role.
The Students’ Union believes that students should feel able to engage with industrial action in whatever way feels appropriate to them, whether that is attending picket lines, expressing solidarity with staff, seeking further information, or choosing not to participate. Students who wish to engage with strike activity should be able to access guidance, information, and support without judgement.
At the same time, we recognise that industrial action can have an impact on students. The Students’ Union remains committed to ensuring that students affected by disruption feel informed, represented, and supported, and that their academic concerns continue to be heard.
Throughout any period of industrial action, the Students’ Union will continue to advocate for students while respecting the rights of staff to take lawful industrial action and supporting constructive dialogue that leads to positive outcomes for both staff and students.
AGM Update
As per the AGM the officers were asked to have a minuted conversation in the EXSU space which is a space with the officers, senior leadership at the SU and the UoG executive team
Bianca outlined a motion that was agreed at the recent SU AGM, focused on Unison staff strike action - calling on the SU to support the strikes. In brief, the motion resolved that:
- The SU should publicly support the strikes
- SU officers should raise the issue at EXSU, and have a minuted conversation, which can later be posted on SU website
- SU officers should support students who wish to join any picket lines
Discussion included:
- SU officers shared their concerns that UoG staff members should be appropriately remunerated to be able to do their job effectively on behalf of the student community
- The VC updated the SU on recent positive discussions with trade union reps on negotiations focused on the terms and conditions of staff members linked to issues including annual leave; redundancy protection; campus relocation; and pay-awards. This included a session facilitated by ACAS. There has been some good progress made in recent weeks
- It was agreed that strikes are never a helpful action for students, and that the University will do all it can to end the strikes, and to mitigate the impact on the student community whenever they take place
- The recognition that the pay awards for staff have been disappointing for a number of years; but also importantly that the level of award is negotiated at a national level – and as such UoG are not able to just develop its own levels of pay awards. The VC welcomed the discussion, and the interest of students at the AGM
The VC also sought reassurance that the officers felt ‘heard’ on the issue, and that the issue can be discussed at every EXSU meeting going forward if helpful for them.