Picketing

• Please sign up for picket duty here. You can just turn up on the day, but it’s helpful to get an indication of how many people we can expect. There’s a space on the form to let us know if there any adjustments we could make, or support we could provide, that would help enable you to picket.
• Please come to the pink gazebo, which will be outside the main entrance from 7:30 am every day, to sign in and get placards and leaflets.
• We’ll suggest where to go with the aim of covering all the entrances, but if you have a preference (e.g. if you’d like to picket near where you work) you can tell us when you sign in.
• If you haven’t picketed before, we’ll make sure you’re with someone who’s experienced (not that it’s hard, honestly, you’ll be handing out leaflets and stickers and chatting to people).
• Bring layers with waterproofs/umbrella – the weather forecast at the moment is rainy.
• We’d love you to bring your own placard or banner.
• Toilets – you can use the toilets (which include disabled toilets) in the Emmanuel Centre, a neutral location.
• You don’t have to picket every day, do take some time for yourself.
• Do take photos and talk about the strike on social media – it helps to create a buzz and keep others informed.  Please tag @leedsucu and use hashtag #ucuRISING.
• We’d recommend everyone pickets on Monday 25th September as a show of strength
• On Friday 29th September, the University of Leeds Unison and Unite branches will also be on strike and we look forward to standing together
• On Friday 29th September we will have a Post your ballot day and encourage member to bring their ballot to campus, if not posted already, to post in the post box at Woodhouse Lane with photos taken for maximum impact and solidarity.

Rallies daily at 11:30

Pickets and supporters will be meeting up on the Parkinson steps at 11:30 each day for a short rally, including speeches, updates, visiting speakers.

Migrant members

We know that it can be hard for migrant members, who face the ‘hostile environment’ and many problems over visas and more, to join industrial action. It helps that the Home Office has updated its guidelines to specify that striking doesn’t count as unauthorised absence for visa (Tier 2) purposes, via an exception to the rule on absences from employment without pay.  The national UCU FAQs for migrant workers are the best place for up to date information about visas and striking, indefinite leave to remain etc. Your union will support migrant members in every way we can.

Notifying about striking, and strike deductions

You definitely do not need to notify anyone in advance that you are striking.  Please don’t, because it enables management to reduce the effectiveness of our strikes. You just need to notify HR on your first day back each time you come back into work after strike days. Remember you can claim from the national fighting fund and our local hardship fund if required.

Out of office message

Here’s a suggested email auto reply for use during the strikes – feel free to adapt as you see fit.

Thank you for your email – this is an auto-reply.  I am currently taking part in the University and College Union’s (UCU) strike action for fair pay and action on workloads, casualisation and pay gaps. More information here. Please request that our Vice Chancellor (vice-chancellor@leeds.ac.uk) work meaningfully with UCU on local issues and use her influence to urge the employer bodies to negotiate meaningfully with UCU nationally.

‘Striking Insights: Welcome to Solidarity’ Teach Outs

We are developing a programme for this and as.  If you’ve been considering offering a session, please add it asap to this spreadsheet.

Joining UCU

It is never to late to join and we are always glad to have new members even in the middle of industrial action! Individuals can join UCU at any point up to and including on the picket line on the day of strike action and lawfully participate in the strike.

We are currently balloting to maintain our ability to action in our pay and conditions campaign. Friday 27 October 2023 (12:00 noon) is the deadline for new members to join UCU and be automatically included in the ballot – but why delay, join today!

See you on the picket lines! 

This page was last updated on 25 September 2023