Email to students 1 November 2019

Dear students,

You may be aware that University and College Union (UCU) members working in UK universities, including the University of York, have voted to back strike action and action short of a strike in ballots over both pensions and pay.

It is disappointing that we may now face the potential for further industrial action at York and universities across the country. Please be assured that your education continues to be our main priority. Should industrial action take place in the coming weeks we will do all that we can to minimise any disruption to your teaching, learning and research.

We are committed to working constructively and collaboratively with our local UCU branch, and through Universities UK (UUK), which is the umbrella organisation that represents all UK universities at a national level, to produce a resolution to the dispute with the UCU. Next steps are not yet clear but we know that the UCU Higher Education Committee is due to meet later today to decide how to respond to the ballot result.

It is important to note that the University of York is just one member of the pension scheme and we are reliant on a national negotiation process which is conducted on the University's behalf. Pay negotiations are also conducted on a national level on behalf of participating employer members. These issues therefore can't be resolved at a local level here at the University of York

We will provide further updates as and when we receive new information.

Best wishes,

Charlie

Professor Charlie Jeffery