Your Students’ Union Officers stand in solidarity with Coventry University UCU members and staff who choose to take this action. We also join other Students’ Unions and the National Union of Students in supporting the national action being taken by UCU and encourage a quick resolution.

The Universities and College Union (UCU) who represent staff across 150 Universities voted in favour of taking industrial action, such as strikes, over disputes about pay and working conditions. The union's demands include a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and action to end the use of insecure contracts. Employers imposed a pay rise worth just 3% this year following over a decade of below inflation pay awards. A third of academic staff are on some form of temporary contract. This strike action is planned to take place at Coventry University on the 24^th, 25^th and 30^th November 2022.

During this period, you may see staff members not working and protesting instead. This will likely involve some lectures and seminars being cancelled as staff involved stand on picket lines. A picket line is a boundary established by workers on strike around the entrances to their place of work with stalls and banners/signs.

We understand that staff members who are striking will have pay withheld. The university have stated that this money will be added into the University Support Fund. We and UCU are calling for the university to instead create a student hardship fund to support our most vulnerable students through the cost-of-living crisis. As your Sabbatical Officers, we are thankful for this support as it will help our most vulnerable students and improve their experience whilst at university.

Your Students’ Union recognises the significant impact strike action has on many students who have already suffered massive disruption to their education during the pandemic. We urge UCU and University representatives to resolve these disputes as soon as possible to minimise the impact it has on our students. We also call on the Government to increase funding for Higher Education.

We believe that staff working conditions are the learning conditions of our students. As a result, by having motivated and well-paid staff, the university experience and quality of education that students receive will be more rewarding and inclusive. We also acknowledge that many students, particularly Postgraduate Researchers, want to pursue careers in academia and therefore it is important that universities are supportive and well-paid places to work.

We are not officially asking students not to cross the picket lines and go onto campus during this period of strike action. We recognise that this is a personal choice made by each of our students. Facilities on campus, such as the library, will remain open for students to access. However, we do ask that all students treat these staff with dignity and respect the decisions and beliefs of others during any strike period. There will also be information on protests and student rights posted shortly.

Information for Coventry campus students

On Thursday 24th and Friday 25th November, there will be a picket line held by UCU members under the bridge near the William Morris and Jaguar buildings. Students are welcome to join staff at the picket line as well as approach for information or ask questions on the strike action.

Information for Scarborough campus students

Our understanding is that there are no strike action plans in Scarborough.

Information for London campus students

On Wednesday 30^th November, there will be a picket line at the UCU Office in London. Students are welcome to join staff at the picket line as well as approach for information or ask questions on the strike action.

Visit our frequently asked questions for more information about how the UCU strikes may affect you. 

If you have any other questions regarding this statement or how Your Students’ Union can support you during this strike action, please email studentsunion.su@coventry.ac.uk.

Your SU Officer Team 2022-23