A trade union representing some University staff (University and College Union or UCU) has announced they will be taking strike action from Monday 21 March to Friday 25 March. The industrial action is related to ongoing national disputes about pay, working conditions and pensions. Across the UK UCU members are taking strike action in 68 Universities.

We are working hard to minimise the impact of the strike action on your studies. In some cases, you may experience little or no disruption. Others may find that some lectures and seminars are cancelled. 

For students who are impacted, we are putting a number of mitigating measures in place to ensure the continuity and quality of your education.

Please, read the reminder below and on the Student Hub, to make sure that you have the latest information to hand. 

Why have the strikes been called?

The industrial action is related to ongoing national disputes about pay, working conditions and pensions.

Some staff at Sussex, just as others are doing in 68 Universities in the UK, will be exercising their legal right to take industrial action. This is scheduled to take place from Monday 21 March to Friday 25 March.

In addition, some UCU members are taking another form of industrial action known as action short of a strike (ASOS) until May 2022. ASOS typically means staff carry out their core duties but do not take on additional responsibilities such as covering absent colleagues or taking part in voluntary activities.

This is a national dispute but we are continuing discussions with local UCU representatives to find a resolution to this dispute quickly.

Your studies

Here are a few practical things to remember about your studies during the strike periods:

1. Please continue to attend your sessions, unless you are advised otherwise.
2. If we know that a teaching session is not taking place, you will receive a notification on the relevant Canvas module and/or the class will be cancelled on Sussex Direct.
3. Please remember to regularly check Sussex Direct or Canvas to see if your lecturer has given advance notice that your class is not taking place.
4. UCU members don't have to let us know if they're striking. This may mean that in some instances we might not be able to give advance notice or cancel your lectures or seminars.
5. If you come to campus and your class isn't happening, you can use the time for independent study and The Library continues to be open as usual 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, other campus study spaces will be open as well as other campus services, such as sports facilities, cafés and bars.
6. If you had an assessment scheduled during the strikes you should have been notified by your School if it has been changed. If you haven’t been told of any change, then it should be taking place as originally scheduled.
7. Any assessments that were due to be handed in via Turnitin or Canvas with deadlines during the strike action remain unchanged unless you have been told otherwise.

Support available

We recognise any period of industrial action is difficult for everyone involved. As with previous periods of industrial action, the University will be working to ensure your education and learning outcomes are not disadvantaged whilst respecting our colleagues’ right to take lawful action. We will provide the space for different views and decisions, while maintaining a culture of dignity and respect. 

If you would like additional support, please visit the Student Hub.

Further information

We’ve made sure there is a range of information available to you on the Student Hub. The page will be updated in response to student enquiries, so please look there first if you have any queries. 

Please, also continue to speak to staff in your School office on any academic matters.