It has been announced that the Stirling branch of the University and College Union (UCU) has called for 10 days of strike action at the start of the 2023 academic year. This is in addition to the five days called for by the national UCU.
The dates currently advised for action regarding pay are Monday, September 11 to Friday, September 29 inclusive.
Students will still have access to campus facilities including the library and sports centre during
this time.
In addition, the Student Services Hub will remain open to support students.
The university announced to students via the online portal that industrial action “may affect
some teaching and activities on those days”.
However, they advise that “you should work on the basis that your studies, welcome, and other activities will continue as normal, unless you are advised otherwise”.
While some staff will inform students in advance of any changes to teaching or activities
caused by strike action, staff are not obliged to inform students if they intend to participate.
The Stirling branch of the UCU has called for this additional strike action due to the harsh pay deductions applied to staff participating in the marking boycott, which ran until September 6.
“Most universities in Scotland, in recognition of the fact that deductions were much higher than the actual work not completed, either capped deductions, or refunded staff some of the pay deducted. University of Stirling has done neither, making their staff deductions some of the most punitive in Scotland,” said the Stirling UCU branch in a press release.
A spokesperson for the University of Stirling said: “The University is disappointed that industrial action is taking place. Our focus is on ensuring our new and returning students are warmly welcomed to the University over the coming days and disruption is minimal.
“Marking and the facilitation of assessments form part of the contractual duties of teaching staff and are fundamental to the progress of our students. The small number of staff who participated in the marking and assessment boycott, as part of sector-wide industrial action, were advised prior to the action that part of their pay would be withheld if they chose not to mark or assess work.”
Keep an eye on your university email for information from the university and your lecturers.
Featured Image Credit: UCU Stirling on X / Twitter
Student journalist & freelance writer
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