Confidential negotiations between the employer’s organisation UCEA and UCU representatives continue, aimed at agreeing a revised pay spine to address the pay compression that has developed over recent years, as well as contract types, workload, and pay gaps.

However, whilst we hope an agreement can be reached, the University has received no indication yet that the strikes planned for 15-17 March and 20-22 March will not take place.

The University will update you as soon as possible should the position change – please look out for further messages next week.

Action short of a strike, where staff work to contract and do not undertake voluntary activity, continues and UCU is currently re-balloting its members to extend the union's mandate to take industrial action beyond 21 April.

The University will remain open during any further periods of industrial action and the vast majority of teaching and learning would proceed as usual. You should assume that your lectures, seminars and classes would take place unless notified otherwise.

We have published FAQs to help you understand how we would minimise the impact of industrial action for you and the University’s position on what is a national dispute affecting the country’s universities.