Action short of a strike: quick training for all members

I am writing now to encourage you to attend one of the quick action short of a strike (ASOS) training sessions which UCU is putting on this week, so members can understand how to use ASOS collectively to increase our leverage in negotiations and take control of your workloads.

Working to contract and ASOS workshops

ASOS can be extremely effective, but I also know that it can feel lonely and individualised, especially after the amazing collective experience of standing on picket lines and attending other events on strike days. This is why we are running a series of five 20 minute bite-size courses on taking ASOS.

I want to ensure that all members can participate in ASOS with confidence and maximise the impact of working to contract, by empowering you with ways to refuse additional duties, and work effectively with colleagues in your workplace to reclaim your life outside work.

The ASOS sessions are repeated, so please only register for one and encourage everyone you know to attend. The more people we have using ASOS collectively, the more effective it will be.

[update: you can catch up on one of the sessions here]

Fighting Fund reminder

The national officers (the president, president elect, vice president and honorary treasurer) have agreed that the Fighting Fund will be made available for this dispute, to support members whose pay is deducted as a result of strike action.

• Daily rates will be £75 for members in UCU subscription bands F3-6 (those earning under £30,000) and £50 for members in bands F0-F2 (those earning £30,000 and over).
• All members participating in strike action will be able to claim for the second day of the strike action onwards.
• The officers will review this position and make further decisions if/when further strike action is called in the new year.

You can find full details here.

National Teach Out!

For the first time ever, UCU is hosting two national teach outs during our strike action. These will cover issues central to the union's campaigning on climate justice. If you can't make it to one of the many local teach outs being hosted by striking branches, or if are a participant of our virtual picket, we'd love to see you at the teach out. Links to join are below so please share them and bring a friend:

• UCU/People & Planet Climate Emergency Teach Out: Fossil Free Careers, Thursday 2 December 2.00-3.30 pm
• Why we need a just recovery: UCU's Green New Deal, Friday 3 December 2.00-3.00 pm

Health and safety in picketing and other in-person action

Finally, we have produced a note on safe picketing and in-person industrial action events here. 

We have sent hand sanitiser to all branches which should arrive before the first strike date and are also working on sending face masks to branches.

Solidarity comrades, and see you on the picket line!

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary