Dear UCU member,
As you know, strike action starts Monday 25 Nov through to Weds 4 Dec. We have already had a huge amount of support expressed by the Students Union and students at large with two staff-student assemblies drawing big crowds. Over the coming eight days, we want to ensure we maximise the impact of our action, to assert our collective voice against the intransigence shown by University employers over our pensions, and the vital issues of casualisation, discriminatory pay gaps, crushing workloads and pay decline. The greater the level of participation in this action, the more visible our unity, the more likely we are to going to be to press the employers back to the negotiating table with a serious response. Especially in the light of draconian and divisive responses from our own warden, which breach all previous custom and practice in respecting our right to strike, and which threaten to harm those of colleagues already most vulnerable – let’s come together in a strong show of solidarity
Below is some key information about picket lines and teach-outs taking place throughout the action. As well as the hardship fund and GUCU advice on declaring.
Picket lines: Will run from 8am – 1pm every day. There will be a number of locations, and a continuous rallypoing point at the front of RHB. Join us for an hour to the whole day! Full information about picket points, including a map, and guidance is available here: https://goldsmithsucu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/GUCU-PicketLine-Leaflet-PDF.pdf
Teach Outs: Normal seminars classes and lectures might not be running, but staff, students and members of local community have worked together to put on a feast of teach outs during the strike – many taking palce in the SU. You can see the full programme here: https://goldsmithsucu.org/2019/11/24/join-us-for-goldsmiths-strike-teach-outs/
Hardship Fund: Don’t feel you have to carry financial hardship as a result of the action. Find out about our hardship fund, what is on offer, and how to apply here: https://goldsmithsucu.org/2019/11/24/gucu-and-national-ucu-hardship-fund/
GUCU advice on declarations: https://goldsmithsucu.org/2019/11/24/gucu-advice-to-members-concerning-strike-declarations/
Keeping in touch: Since we recommend you do not use your gold.ac.uk email during the dispute we have created a whatsapp group for “info only” during the strike. You can join it by clicking on this link here:https://chat.whatsapp.com/BaQGTXWSizLFGNRw3VirO9
Also check out our facebook page, twitter @goldsmithsucu and our website
If you have any concerns not answered in the material above, or that arise during the dispute, you can send an email to gucu-admin@gold.ac.uk
In solidarity
GUCU executive.