Strike and picket guide

We have been working with our two sister unions, Unite and Unison to exert maximum pressure on management to prevent redundancies. Please note that the mandate for strike action only applies to UCU members. Members of other unions can join us on the picket line but will not have the protection of their union.

Yes, please do. Setting an out of office email to inform colleagues and external collaborators that you are on strike increases the impact. You can use and adapt the below text.

Thank you for your email. I am currently out of office as part of my UCU branch’s strike action against the University’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies, following two extensive voluntary redundancy programs losing almost 300 colleagues and ahead of further job cuts for academic staff over next academic year. Not only have many of my colleagues lost their jobs, but those of us who remain are burdened with their workload too, putting our health and safety at serious risk. This loss of employment could have been avoided as shown by the Counter Proposal executive summary.

If you find my absence to be disruptive to your own work or study, please share your concerns with Vice Chancellor Jane Norman (bazjn@nottingham.ac.uk) and Chair of Council Kieth O’Nions (brako7@nottingham.ac.uk), encouraging them to engage in negotiations with UCU and commit to no compulsory redundancies.

Yes – as your employment contract is with UoN you can and should go on strike. The funding body should be informed by UoN, but that is not your responsibility.

Our picket lines are friendly and aim to be non confrontational whilst trying to talk to and leaflet as many people as possible. They are expressions of joyful militancy.

A picket “line” consists of a group of striking employees, standing outside their place of work, for some or all of the duration they are on strike. A picket line stands outside of the workplace, refusing to go in and encouraging colleagues and others to not go in either. Crossing the picket line to enter the workplace can be seen as directly objecting to the industrial action taking place. What happens on a picket line and how these are organised will vary between workplaces and trade unions.

We commonly ask other workers not to cross our picket line, and a huge cheer will go up if a vehicle turns around, we can usually rely on Royal Mail workers to turn around.

Pickets are seeking to encourage other workers to join the picket and the industrial action by sharing information and experiences. Under UK law, the picket line is symbolic rather than a physical barrier.

Picket lines are also highly visible. This reminds the employer of the industrial action, and the scale of the action being taken. A busy picket line with many employees sends a very clear signal to the employer, and looks great if the media come down to cover the strike. Equally, standing side by side with others taking the same action can make you feel safer, supported and less isolated in this. This aspect can be particularly important if you don’t think you know of any other members.

The visibility of a picket is also valuable in drawing public attention from those passing by. This can help you to explain the cause of the action and dispute to someone who may not have known about it otherwise.

For September 2025 we will be across 4 locations: West, South and North entrances to University Park campus, and at the Derby Road entrance of Jubilee campus

We start from 8am and will be going through to 11:30am. You can join us at any time in that window and stay for as long as you are able to.

Bring weather appropriate clothing, come rain or shine. In the summer this could be sun cream and a brolly, and in winter you’ll want to wrap up very warm. If you have any pink and purple clothes to wear, we love seeing members in UCU colours!

Be sure to bring a water bottle and snacks. You are also welcome to bring bakes to share around which will no doubt be appreciated by those around you.

You can bring a placard or sign painted at home. These can be held in your hands or being a stick and tape to attach it to. We will also supply placards to hold. If it’s dry weather, you could bring chalk to write on the pavements towards the campus entrance.

You may also want to bring something noisy with you like a saucepan or a whistle. This helps draw attention to the picket.

Anyone is welcome on a picket. This includes UCU members, other staff, friends or family. Children and dogs are welcome too. Though most people there will be striking members, no one is asking you to sign in on arrival. 

While at a picket line, you will meet other members from across the university working in all departments and in all sorts of jobs. This can be a great time to spend with friends from your own school, and catch up with those you know from across campus. But it can also be a great way to meet other members. If you’ve come solo and don’t recognise anyone there, don’t worry – you’ll be friends with the person next to you soon enough!

• Join the line of people there and introduce yourself. Get to know other members and hear about what they are experiencing in their department that got them out on strike.
• You can ask for a placard, leaflets and an arm band from one of the picket supervisors who will be in high vis.
• While on the line, you can be handing out information to people passing by, inviting them to talk about the industrial action. You can also make some noise, especially in response to anyone who supportively toots their horn.
• The only key thing NOT to do is speak to the press. Redirect any press who approach you towards the picket supervisors who will speak with them instead. This helps us to keep the message clear and consistent.

If you need to park your car on campus, for accessibility reasons, to join in, then please do so and then come to meet us at the gate. We would always prefer that you joined us on the picket than felt put off from doing so because of parking arrangements.

If you can, use public transport like the tram park and rides, getting off at the University Boulevard stop allowing you to drive from further afield without worrying about giving the university money for your parking or having to drive through the picket line to park up. If you’d like to drive and park off campus, there is some street parking nearby (check for permits and time limits!) or the nearest car park is Derby Street South in Beeston. 

If you need to sit down at times or continuously while you picket. Bring a camp chair or something similar with you or arrange for a friend to bring one down for you to use. We will also arrange to bring a couple chairs along.

If you’re only able to stay for a shorter period but want to get involved, please do come down for as long as you’re able. We recognise that there are many reasons why people can’t stay for longer periods of time and appreciate the time you do commit to this

Should you need the loo while picketing, the campus security team have offered use of their toilets. Please ask them at the gate house

If you have any other access needs that you’d like support to manage while picketing, please contact the branch email address or your department rep.

We advise that members who are taking voluntary redundancy do not participate in strike action as there is a small risk that this could jeopardise your redundancy pay out. However, you are welcome to visit the picket at any time to say hello

There is no legal requirement to inform your manager or the employer of your intention to strike beforehand or during industrial action. If you did, you risk undermining your own action by giving your manager an opportunity to find cover for the work that you are missing through striking.

Once you have returned to work, if asked you should then inform your line manager or another department leader of your action.