2 - 4 MAY 2023
This referendum (which will take the form of a 'preferendum' due to there being multiple voting options) relates to the motion below entitled ‘Preferendum on the current UCU Industrial Action’. This contemporary resolution was proposed by a majority of the Officer Group under Article 7 of the Students’ Union’s Constitution.
The question we will be asking is as follows:
What stance should RHSU adopt towards the renewed UCU industrial action?
What are the voting options?
a. To support the UCU’s current industrial action and its stance in its entirety, up to and including any further strike action.
b. To support the UCU’s current stance regarding ‘action short of strike’, but reject the decision for wholescale strikes.
c. To reject UCU’s current industrial action and its stance in its entirety.
Why are there more than two options to choose between?
This is a really complex issue - it would be really difficult for you, as a student body, to make a simple yes or no decision. Instead, there are the above three options that cover the various positions, and you will be able to rank them in terms of preference.
Why was the preferendum called?
On Friday 14 April, it was announced that the Officer Group called for a preferendum regarding the ongoing University and College Union (UCU) industrial action. The contemporary resolution was proposed in line with Byelaw B of the Students' Union's Constitution.
The reasons for this decision are simple; this is an issue that students hold various different beliefs on. Ultimately, the stance of the Students’ Union is determined by you, the students. On issues that are of this nature, which will undoubtedly impact all students, it is only fair and reasonable for the decision to lie with you, the membership.
Background Reading
Fri 23 Jun 2023
With the current marking and assessment boycott (MAB), we recognise this may be a scary time for you as a student. We're here to explain the current situation and help you better understand the emergency regulations put in place by the University.
Thu 04 May 2023
Over the last three days, you've been voting for what stance the Students' Union should adopt towards the renewed UCU industrial action. Find out the results of the preferendum.
Fri 28 Apr 2023
With only a few days to go until the UCU Preferendum, VP Education Shrijeet Shrey takes you through what the marking boycott means for you.
Why are UCU members unhappy?
The UCU balloted for two separate issues:
1. Pay and working conditions
2. Pensions
The recent ballot follows cuts to pension benefits that were put in place in 2021, following previous industrial action. Regarding the issue of pay and working conditions, the UCU is asking for universities to improve their pay increase offer to match inflation (RPI 13.8% as of February 2023).
What's the latest with the disputes?
In March 2023, University employers made offers in disputes over pay, working conditions and pensions. The offers pave the way for the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension to be restored by April 2024, to end the use of involuntary zero-hour contracts in higher education, and to agree new standards, frameworks and principles to tackle other forms of casualised contracts, reduce workloads and close equality pay gaps.
In April 2023, members voted overwhelmingly by 85% to move forward with pension proposals agreed with employers, enabling benefits to be restored. However, a resolution has still not been met in the pay and conditions dispute, with 56% of members voting to reject proposals agreed with employers.
Will my deadlines and exams be affected?
Your assessment deadlines and exam dates will not be impacted, with the University vowing to "do everything possible to minimise disruption to graduations".
You should continue to prepare for assessments as usual, submit work on time and attend scheduled exams. You can read more in the University's UCU Action Short of Strike Update.
Representing your academic interests
As a Students’ Union, it is our responsibility to act in the interests of our membership, you – the students. In addition to receiving your guidance on whether we should or shouldn’t support the strike action, we are also working to mitigate any negative effects on your university experience.
We will be contacting the University in order to engage in discussions as to how the negative impact on students is not detrimental to your academic achievement.