Tag Archives: strike

Possible Action Short of Strike Action

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BU has been made aware that due to the on-going national dispute around the 2013/14 national pay negotiations for university employees, the University and College Union (UCU) is planning to ask members to escalate its continuous action short of a strike from 28 April 2014, in support of the trade unions’ Higher Education national claim regarding pay.

We understand that the escalated action will take the form of a boycott of all marking, course work, assignments and examinations.

We hope that the current national negotiations will enable UCU to decide not to proceed and should emphasise currently we have not yet received formal notification of this action from UCU.  However, in the event that the action goes ahead, our aim as always will be to minimise the impact on students and as a result the schools are planning to address this.

Students are asked to contact their Programme Administrator or Faculty/Academic School administration office in the event of any concerns.

BU is keen to stress that this is a national dispute and it does not endorse the strike action and has asked academic staff to ensure that any potential effects on students are minimised.

This action is as a result of the dispute raised by the trade unions in relation to the employers final pay offer of 1% for 2012/13. Attempts to resolve the dispute at a national level which included meetings with ACAS, an organisation devoted to preventing and resolving employment disputes, failed to reach a resolution.

Whilst the trade unions advised the Employers Association (UCEA) that they remain in dispute and this could not be resolved without an increase in the final pay offer, UCEA have been clear that this is not within their mandate and have since advised the trade unions that the 13/14 negotiations are closed.

We are aware that the Unions are currently in discussions with the employers association in respect of the national negotiations for 2014/15 and hope that these discussions will result in UCU deciding not to proceed on this basis.

We will keep you informed of any further updates as and when they become available.  If you have any questions please contact your Faculty or Academic School administration office.

Fire Strike – 1 & 4 November

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fire-engineThe Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have announced that their members will be on strike between 6.30pm until 11pm on Friday 1 November and 6 am until 8am on Monday 4 November, so staff and students are advised to take greater precautions during these times.

Safety systems of work that are already in place will remain. However, everyone has a duty to participate in fire safety at BU, particularly at the time of a strike by Fire Brigade personnel. You can assist greatly in preventing fires and alarms. 

Everyone should consider delaying any non-essential activities that may increase fire risk until full fire service coverage is resumed. 

Staff and students on campus during this time should take even more care and to think about their safety from fire in all of their activities. 

  • You should postpone, where possible, all hazardous activities for the duration of the strike. These may involve workshop or laboratory activities.
  • Please consider the fire hazards within your areas and do all you can to minimize risk
  • Ensure that all fire doors are kept shut and not wedged open.
  • Ensure that all escape routes are unobstructed at all times and that accumulation of waste materials is avoided.
  • You must immediately evacuate any area in which an alarm sounds.  Never enter a building in which the alarm is sounding, and await direction from the responsible person.
  • Non-fire emergencies, such as becoming trapped in a lift, procedures remain unchanged.

Directors/Heads of Professional Services and School Directors of Operations should ensure the following within their relevant departments:

  • Hazardous processes, experiments and works are postponed for the duration of the strike wherever possible.

Teaching staff should all be aware of the following:

  • That people in their charge leave the building during an evacuation.
  • That those requiring assistance with evacuating in their charge, including those with mobility difficulties, are taken to the nearest refuge areas. 

For further information contact the BU Fire Safety Officer, Chris Hewitt on 01202 965101 or the Estates Help Desk on 01202 965515.

Strike Action – 31 October 2013

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Following a recent national ballot by UCU (the trade union that represents academic staff) and UNISON (professional support staff), BU has now been notified that both unions will be holding a one day strike on the 31 October 2013.

In addition, we have been notified that UCU will be taking action short of a strike by way of “working to contract” with effect from 1 November 2013.  It is not possible at this stage to say exactly how the one day strike on 31 will affect any lectures/seminars or other services a week on Thursday but BU is doing all it can to minimise the impact on students. We expect that the majority of activities and services will continue unaffected by this strike and students are advised that lectures will continue as normal unless told otherwise by individual academics or communications in the Schools.

Students are also asked to look out for late cancellations running up to and on this day and, in the event that a lecture is not cancelled but a lecturer does not attend a planned session, please contact your Programme Administrator or school administration office.

In addition, in respect of action short of strike action we are expecting staff to work normally and efficiently fulfilling their contractual obligations in full and therefore, are unable to indicate at this stage an effect that this might have.

The University is keen to stress that this is a national dispute and it does not endorse the strike action and has asked academic staff to ensure that any potential effects on students are minimised.

We will keep you informed of any further updates as and when they become available.  If you have any questions please contact the school admin office.