* Student Administration home + UCU Industrial Action 1. Home 2. Student Administration 3. UCU Industrial Action Contact us UCU Industrial Action Guidance for students on the upcoming strike action and how it might affect you. If you have a query about the industrial action that isn't answered on this page, please contact ucu-action-queries@ed.ac.uk Industrial action dates In October 2019, members of the University of Edinburgh branch of University and Colleges Union (UCU) took part in two separate ballots which resulted in votes in favour of strike action and action short of a strike. This action is in support of UCU’s disputes regarding the joint unions’ 2019/20 pay claim and the increase in member contributions to the Universities Superannuation Scheme. On 3rd February, UCU announced further strike action due to take place in February and March 2020. UCU has asked members to take part in 14 strike days over the course of three weeks: -- * Week 3: Monday 9 – Friday 13 March (five days) As well as these strike days, union members will also continue 'action short of a strike'. You can read the Universities UK response to the industrial action at: http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk -- Impact on your studies, cancelled classes or teaching time During the industrial action, you should work on the basis that your studies will continue as normal, unless you are told otherwise. This means that you should aim to attend scheduled teaching, complete and -- Office / Teaching Organisation. Compensation as a result of industrial action While the University, in line with its terms and conditions (section -- Some students will have incurred additional expenses directly as a result of the industrial action. For example, some students on part-time, blended or professional development programmes have borne the cost of travel, childcare and/or accommodation to attend a teaching event which was then subsequently cancelled because of the strike action. The University will reimburse such additional expenses incurred. To claim, please email your evidence including the expenses incurred and the date and class that was cancelled to ucu-action-queries@ed.ac.uk to receive individual reimbursement. Reimbursement will not commence until the industrial action ends. Please note this is not applicable to expenses you may have incurred over and above your normal day to day living costs such as rent etc. -- which classes were impacted. Impact of industrial action on University operations During the industrial action, the University will remain open and many academic and support activities continue to operate as normal, although we may be functioning with fewer staff. Where teaching staff are taking part in the strike action, there may be disruption to teaching operations (e.g. lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory sessions and fieldwork), and provision of feedback. Other staff within professional services at your School may also be UCU members and so may be unavailable during the strike action. Please be aware that not all staff are members of UCU. While we do not yet know the likely extent of further action, we will continue to ensure that the impact on students is minimised while at the same time maintaining high academic standards. Impact of industrial action on lectures/seminars/tutorials/ laboratory sessions and other teaching From the start of the action, Schools will work to ensure the impact on your studies is minimised, but some scheduled teaching may need to be cancelled. Your School will continue to aim to inform you in advance of -- possible. In some cases, however, this information may not be available to Schools in advance as staff are not required to inform us they are participating in the action. Impact on coursework deadlines -- to the overall assessment for the course, and some students will have other assessment activities such as presentations scheduled during the period of industrial action. You are expected to attend these classes if they are running. -- In the event of you being unable to contact your personal tutor, supervisor, programme director or student support team please email ucu-action-queries@ed.ac.uk and your enquiry and/or support need will be addressed. If you are a Visiting Student in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College's Visiting Student Office will be able to provide you with support. The visiting student office can be contacted by email vso@ed.ac.uk or by telephoning 0131 6511700. -- Impact on students currently on exchange The industrial action is unlikely to have any impact on your studies at your host institution. However, if you require support from your Exchange Coordinator or Personal Tutor at the University of Edinburgh and they are participating in the industrial action, there may be a delay in their response. If this is the case, we advise that you get in touch with your contact in the Study and Work Away Service. -- We do not anticipate disruption to library or support services during the industrial action. You will be able to continue to access these as needed. -- should answer the questions they feel most able and prepared to address. If any exam paper contains a question on material not delivered due to strike action this will be brought to the attention of the exam board in order that it can take these circumstances into consideration. -- We understand that many of you may experience some disruption to your teaching or assessment due to industrial action. Please be assured that Boards of Examiners who consider your course and programme results will be given detailed information about the impact of any disruption to -- You do not need to use the special circumstances process to make them aware of these issues, unless you have experienced a unique impact from the industrial action, for example due to a combination of your personal circumstances, and the action. If you do have unique personal circumstances of which you wish to make the Board aware, you should follow the Special Circumstances Procedure. -- Schools will continue to meet published deadlines for return of feedback to students wherever possible. However, the industrial action may mean that some feedback is returned later than expected. The University has however asked all Schools to prioritise teaching and -- As long as you continue to attend all contact and engagement points wherever possible, your visa status will be unaffected by the industrial action. In the event that the industrial action leads to some of your engagement points being cancelled, your School may put alternative engagement points in place. -- Universities across the sector. The University has also been addressing a number of additional points raised by the Unions. We have already reached agreement with UCU on a number of actions to improve the working conditions and security of Guaranteed Hours teaching staff and are committed to working with UNISON and Unite to do so in other areas