National strike action at UK universities

Update - 1 March:

The University and College Union has added an extra day of strike action to what is already planned for March. Action on Wednesday 15 March will coincide with strikes and protests by other unions on Budget day. Strike action from 15 - 22 March is currently going ahead, as planned. 

Update – 18 February:

The UCU has currently paused strike action following progress over pay, conditions and pensions.
Seven days of strikes planned to take place 21-23 February and 27 February-2 March have been called off.
A joint statement has been released by UUK and UCU.
We will update both staff and students regarding the planned strike dates for 16 March onwards once information has been announced.

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The University and College Union (UCU) have informed us that following a national ballot that closed on 21 October 2022, their members have voted to take a further 18 days of strike action on the dates below.

• Wednesday 1 February (as previously announced)
• Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February
• Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 February inclusive
• Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 February inclusive
• Monday 27 February to Thursday 2 March inclusive
• Wednesday 15 to Friday 17 March inclusive
• Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 March inclusive

This means UCU members at Solent will be asked to support this action, which is taking place across the sector, however, all other staff are expected to work normally on these days.

At last week's third and final negotiation meeting on 25 January, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) made an improved final pay offer for 2023-24 of a minimum pay rise of 5%, rising to 8% for the lower spinal points. This is the highest uplift offered in two decades, and recognises the current cost pressures faced by both employees and employers.

Your education and wellbeing is, as always, our top priority and we appreciate this may be a difficult time for those concerned about possible disruption to their learning.

We are working with colleagues across the University to minimise the impact of any action, and to ensure you are kept informed about the measures we are putting in place.

You can find out more here, and in the meantime, please watch out for communications from us about the strike action.