We have excellent news on this front, especially for members who have been worrying about any disproportional impact that strike deduction may have on their financial situation – following our detailed requests for support that would encompass financially vulnerable and precariously employed members in particular, the UCU national officers have agreed:

1. All UCU members who strike as part of this dispute will be able to apply to the UCU Fighting Fund for support connected to the third day of strike action (Friday 13th October) regardless of financial status (the fourth day of action we have taken as a branch). A cap will be applied at £75 for this day, or at a lower level if the member would have usually earned less than £75 that on that day (this is to ensure HMRC compliance).
2. Additional consideration will be given for payments connected to the first two days of the strike action (Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th October) for members on hourly paid contracts or who can otherwise evidence that the strike deductions made would have a disproportionate impact upon them which would leave them financially vulnerable. A cap will be applied at £50 per day, or at a lower level if the member would have usually earned less than £50 per day (this is to ensure HMRC compliance).

Colleagues at head office are making arrangements to ensure systems are in place to handle claims, and we expect more finely tuned details of how consideration would be made for members applying in connection with days 1 & 2 of the strike to come through on Monday.