A message from the Convenor of the Combined Unions at GCU

As you will be aware our colleagues in the UCU are on strike on Thursday at GCU. This action is in support of the ongoing national dispute on pay and job security. The employers’ current offer was of 0.4% with no movement on the issue of job security. As a result UCU balloted for industrial action against the offer and got a positive vote.

There are 5 unions recognised at GCU. The other main academic union is the EIS (which I am member of) is also in dispute and is currently running an official ballot for industrial action.

The other 3 unions the GMB, UNISON and UNITE have agreed to the national offer and are no longer in dispute on this issue.

However locally, as you know, all Unions are currently in dispute over management’s imposition of a number of policies and the threat of 95 compulsory redundancies, the strike tomorrow is not part of that but the issues are clearly linked.

Anti – trade union laws mean the official support other unions not taking industrial action can give to our colleagues is limited.

However the Combined Union Committee would state that no union member should be expected to cover any workload of a striking colleague on Thursday.

The UCU at Glasgow Caledonian are also having a small rally outside the Uni gates at 11am on Thursday 24th March. If people are free and can use their breaks I am sure the UCU would welcome support from their colleagues from all parts of the University even if just for a few minutes.

All the best
Nick
Dr Nick McKerrell
Convenor of GCU Combined Union Committee

For FAQs about your rights and reponsibilities during the strike see here