The University has been notified that the University and College Union (UCU) has secured a mandate to call on its members to take action short of a strike in the form of an assessment and marking boycott commencing from 6 November 2014. Additionally, the UCU has advised employers that it may call on its members to take additional strike action at any time. This action is being taken in relation to potential changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). Further details on USS funding pressures can be found at http://www.pensions.admin.cam.ac.uk/uss/uss-news-publications .
Staff will shortly receive a letter confirming details of the University’s approach to the expected industrial action by the UCU. The letter confirms that the action being called would involve a breach of an individual’s contract and therefore deductions to pay will be applied to the salaries of staff who participate as set out in the letter that is being sent to all Academic, Academic-Related and Research staff. The letter can be found here.
To enable institutions to plan properly and safely, staff are asked to advise their Departmental Administrator, or equivalent, in advance if they intend to participate in the industrial action by completing the relevant ‘participation form’ enclosed in the letter.
Institutions are asked to send hard copies of signed participation forms to Nicola Mister at Human Resources, the Old Schools, Trinity Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1TT, or to send scanned copies to industrialaction@admin.cam.ac.uk. The letter sent to institutions confirming the University’s approach and the action to be taken can be found here.
Institutions and staff may wish to refer to the frequently asked questions available here.