UCEA have agreed to further talks involving ACAS, to take place next Monday & Tuesday.

Whilst this is a welcome development we should not be complacent.

A resolution can only be achieved if the employer returns to meaningful negotiations in good faith, and makes an improved offer on all strands of the Four Fights USS Pension disputes.

What is clear is that the level of support for the strike by members is beginning to focus the minds of employers; that support will remain crucial to progress going forwards.

You can see the full statement from UCU here

Your personal participation is key to our collective success.

• support the strike,
• join the picket line.

The next two phases of strike action are:

• 9th and 10th February,
• 14th, 15th and 16th February.

Bradford University UCU LA Committee has agreed that pickets will be held on:

• Thursday 9th and Friday 10th February from 8:30am until 10:30am.
• Tuesday 14th and Thursday 16th February from 8:30am until 10:30am.

A branch Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at:

• 1:00pm on Wednesday 15th February.

Please look out for invitations to this online meeting in due course.

Over the last decade members’ pay has been eroded by 25% due to inflation.   This is a situation that simply cannot be considered sustainable.

The latest ‘improved’ pay offer of 5% was unsurprisingly rejected by 80.4% of members in a recent e-ballot, meaning that the fight for realistic workloads, security of employment, equality of remuneration, and a fair deal on pay continues.

You can read the full statement on the ballot from UCU here

For full details of the latest pay offer which was presented to negotiators on 25th January, together with a statement from the General Secretary and the response by the Joint Trade Unions, go to UCU – Employers fall well short with new offer.

Members will be aware that UCU will be providing support through a package of strike pay from its Fighting Fund, aimed at partially offsetting lost income due to participation in this important period of industrial action.

UCU Bradford University Local Association is also pleased to report back on its appeal to management to reconsider their proposal to make strike deductions over two consecutive pay periods.

UCU’s alternative proposal that pay be spread as evenly as possible over three pay periods has now been accepted by management. 

The branch is aware that there will be a rally in Centenary Square in Bradford from 11 until 12 noon on 1st February.   The event is organised by the NEU but understand that a number of trade unions will be attending in a show of solidarity.

An invitation to attend that rally has been accepted by Bradford UCU LA; accordingly the picket will move on to that event following the stint at the Gt Horton Road entrance, and all are welcome to attend.

All other advice as detailed previously for those where it may be convenient to visit more local strike events still applies.

Following on from the first of two EGM’s this week, the branch confirms that there will be a picket on 1st February from 8:30 am until 11:00 am.

Recognising that this is a day of action across several sectors, including by rail staff unions, the branch is asking for volunteers who are able to travel or live locally to campus to commit in advance to attending the picket.   Please either let yourself be known to the Chair at Friday’s EGM or email ucusupport@bradford.ac.uk.

Those who are able will then move on to Leeds to take part in the TUC rally from 12:00 noon at Leeds Town Hall.

Members who are unable to travel to campus may prefer instead to visit other UCU picket lines or those of other trade unions more local to them as a demonstration of solidarity.   Alternatively you could go straight to the TUC even in Leeds.

Tweet photo’s of your visit to @ucubradford and let us know of your escapades.

Please remember that you are ‘just visiting’ and should not play an active role in the picket in such circumstances.

Any member who does in the event find they are able to attend the picket here on campus will be most welcome.

With the 1st February strike date looming, UCU HQ have now announced a full programme of dates through February and into March, the strategy agreed by HE Committee following consultation with branches.

Strike dates are as follows:

• 1st February,
• 9th & 10th February,
• 14th to 16th February,
• 21st to 23rd February
• 27th February to 2nd March,
• 16th to 22nd March (5 working days).

Please look out for branch email advice on plans for strike days, make every effort to attend EGM’s, and check here for further updates.

An assessment of the cost to you of a loss of a days pay can be viewed here*:

The net cost of striking. If you strike, you will be deducted… | by Sarahcjoss | Jan, 2023 | Medium

*This assessment should be regarded as a guide only – your actual deductions will depend upon your personal circumstances.

With ongoing developments in the programme of industrial action, Bradford LA Committee agreed to hold two Extraordinary General Meetings in advance of the next day of action, 1st February 2023.

Given the short notice, meetings will be held on both 25th and 27th January to enable as many members as possible to attend.

Meetings will be on-line and take place between 1pm and 2pm on both days.

Members should watch for an email invitation with Zoom links in the coming days.

Following deliberation by the HE Committee, and taking into account the views of branch delegates, UCU  have announced that the next strike day will be

Wednesday 1st February 2023.

A further 17 days of action are planned for the following weeks, dates of which are yet to be announced.

We recommend that members keep an eye on your mail and other branch channels for details of Bradford’s plans for the upcoming period of strike action.