This post outlines strike plans for the University of Nottingham UCU branch between 20th February to 13th March. Please check back regularly for updates and follow us on Twitter: @UoNUCU
Dates of strike
February 20, 21
February 24, 25, 26
March 2, 3, 4, 5
March 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Rally on Thursday 20 February
We will be holding a rally at 11:30am on Thursday 20th at the Pavilions in Highfields Park (see blue circle on map below). The aim is to make our presence seen and heard in the management offices of Trent Building, so please bring music instruments and any noise making devices (pots and pans, vuvuzelas, kazoos, cow bells, bike bells, etc).
We also have a UoN UCU strike playlist which is public and collaborative, so feel free to add your favourite tunes!
Picket line
Picket times are 07:30-11:00.
Please make every effort you can to join the pickets, support each other, talk to colleagues and students about the action, and represent the union as powerfully as you did during the last strike. If you cannot join the physical picket – as many can’t, for various reasons – please demonstrate your solidarity and support on the virtual picket, using @UoNUCU #UCUStrike #ucustrikesback
Please take care of yourself on the picket line and watch out for cyclists and motorists! Your health is a priority so if you feel unwell/need rest, don’t feel pressure to attend the picket line but strike from home.
Picket line locations
* See corresponding letters next to red X’s on map
University Park:
(A) North Entrance
(B) South Entrance
(C) West Entrance
(D) East Entrance
(E) Pedestrian Entrance across from University Blvd Tram Stop
(F) Pedestrian Entrance Derby Road (West End of Campus)
(G) Pedestrian Entrance Derby Road (across from Wollaton Park pedestrian gate)
Kings Meadow Campus:
(H) Main Entrance
Sutton Bonington Campus:
(I) Main Entrance (College road)
(J) South Entrance (Landcroft Lane)
Jubilee Campus:
(K) Wollaton Road Entrance
(L) Triumph Road Entrance
(M) Derby Road Entrance
See below for where to report for the picket. The locations have been assigned by department in order to ensure coverage on all picket lines; however you are not obliged to go to that location – feel free to move around as well. You may also be asked by a picket coordinator to populate a quieter location, if you are happy to do so.
If your department/unit is not listed, or if you require posters or armbands, please visit picket leaders at these sites:
At UP: North Entrance (A); South Entrance (B); West Entrance (C)
At Sutton Bonington: Main Entrance (I)
At Jubilee: Triumph Road Entrance (L); Derby Road Entrance (M)
| Department | Picket Location |
| American and Canadian Studies | UP North (A) |
| Architecture and the Built Environment | UP West (C) |
| Biosciences | Sutton Bonington Main Entrance (I) |
| Chemistry | UP North (A) |
| Civil Engineering | UP North (A) |
| Computer Science | Jubilee Wollaton Rod (K) |
| Counselling | UP North (A) |
| CLAS | UP South (B) |
| Economics | UP West (C) |
| Education (inc CELE) | Jubilee Triumph Road (L) |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | UP North (A) |
| English | UP South (B) |
| Finance and Infrastructure | Jubilee Wollaton Road (K) |
| French | UP West (C) |
| Geography | UP South (B) |
| German Studies | UP West (C) |
| Health Sciences | Jubilee Derby Road (M) |
| History | UP West (C) |
| History of Art | UP South (B) |
| Information Services | Kings Meadow |
| Law | UP North (A) |
| Libraries | Staff based at UP: UP South (B) Staff based at Jubilee: Jubilee Triumph Road (L) Staff based at Kings Meadow: Kings Meadow |
| Life Sciences | UP South (B) |
| Mathematical Sciences | Kings Meadow |
| Medicine | Jubilee Wollaton Road (K) |
| Music | UP South (B) |
| Nottingham University Business School | Jubilee Derby Road (M) |
| Pharmacy | UP North (A) |
| Philosophy | UP West (C) |
| Physics and Astronomy | Kings Meadow |
| Politics and International Relations | UP West (C) |
| Psychology | UP South (B) |
| Russian and Slavonic Studies | UP North (A) |
| Sociology and Social Policy | Jubilee Derby Road (M) |
| Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies UP West (C) | |
| Veterinary Medicine and Science | Sutton Bonington Main Entrance (I) |
Teach-outs and events
Events are free and open to all (not just UCU members). All venues are wheel-chair accessible.
| Date | Event | Venue | Time |
| Thursday 20th Feb | Strike Rally | Pavilions, Highfield Park | 11.30am |
| Friday 21st Feb | Bake-off | Picket lines | |
| Monday 24th Feb | Workshop: ‘Building union presence: conversations that lead to action’ Led by Pete Rodgers, Nottingham Citizens | Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW | 1 – 3pm |
| Tuesday 25th Feb | Discussion: ‘Gendered Injustice in the University’ Led by Katharine Jenkins and Jessica Vernon, Dpt of Philosophy | Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR | 1 -3 pm |
| Wednesday 26th Feb | Talk: ‘What is a student housing co-operative?’ Led by Nottingham Student Housing Co-operative | Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW | 1 – 3pm |
| Monday 2nd March | Crafting session: Intimidating Bunting, Crochet, Finger-knitting, needle felting. All materials provided Talk: ‘Brexit and Citizen Rights’ Narine Ghazaryan, School of Law | Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW | 1 -3 pm |
| Tuesday 3rd March | Talk: ‘The power of statistics: how to spot fake news’ Rosie Smith, School of Education Talk: ‘Well-being and resilience at work’ Neil Chadborne, School of Medicine | Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR | 1 – 3pm |
| Wednesday 4th March | Yoga for all stages including beginners Bring your own yoga mat/there will be 12 provided by instructor. Class size limit: 20 Session: 45 min | Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR | 1 – 2pm |
| Wednesday 4th March | STRIKE SOCIAL! Music, dancing, and drinks. With special guest UCU secretary Jo Grady. Free, everyone welcome! | Vat and Fiddle, 12 Queensbridge Rd, NG2 1NB | 7.30pm – late |
| Thursday 5th March | Workshop: ‘The Changing Face of Community Education in the East Midlands: Implications for Adult and Higher Education’ Colin Kirkwood, Rob Hunter, Lorinda Liversidge, John Holford, Linden West | Nottingham Mechanics (Lounge), 3 North Sherwood Street, NG1 4EZ | 2 – 4.30pm |
| Monday 9th March | Discussion: Anti-casualisation led by University of Nottingham Anti-casualisation Group | Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW | 1 – 3pm |
| Tuesday 10th March | Poetry reading: Peter Gizzi, Sarah Hayden, Alan Baker | Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row W, NG1 2DH | 7 – 8.30pm |
| Wednesday 11th March | Talk: ‘Black Holes and Extra Dimensions’ Antonio Padilla, School of Physics and Astronomy | South Entrance Picket | 10am |
| Thursday 12th March | TBC | ||
| Friday 13th March | Rally | TBC |
What happens when I am on strike?
No Emails
· Not log-on to the university network
· Not read or respond to work emails during the duration of multiple-day strikes
· Put an ‘I am on strike, etc.,’ automatic reply on your email – see below
No Teaching or administration
· Not ‘catch-up’ with work planned for during the strike
· Dissuade any colleagues from covering for your absence
· Not ‘decline’ or rearrange meetings
· Not rearrange classes
No Research
· Not attend research seminars and other research events
Out Of Office emails
UCU members should not read or respond to any emails whilst on strike, and should immediately delete, unread, all emails on return to work — except for those from students. During strike periods, we ask you to put an out-of-office auto-reply on your emails. We suggest the following text — though of course you may edit this if you prefer.
I am currently unavailable as I am striking over Pensions, Pay and Equality.
Background to the dispute can be found here:
https://www.ucu.org.uk/why-we-are-taking-action
You can support us by joining UCU (http://join.ucu.org.uk/) and taking part in strike action.
If you are a student, I will respond to your email on my return — though you may have to be patient.
Otherwise, I will not be reading this email, and will delete it, unread, on my return.
Open Days
Where members have been directly instructed to participate in an open day or other University activities on a day not explicitly marked as a strike day (including weekends), they should comply with this instruction provided said activities form a normal part of the work associated with their role; where participation in such activities is presented as voluntary, members do not need to undertake this work.
Other useful information for members can be found here: