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Industrial Action

Industrial Action by Newcastle University Colleagues

Update 23 September:

The University was notified yesterday evening that the industrial action scheduled for 25-29 September has been cancelled.

This means all teaching and supervision scheduled for week commencing 25 September will go ahead as planned.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this late notification may cause.

 

Update: 18 September 2023

On 6 September, the University and Colleges Union (UCU) announced that its members would take strike action in relation to the ongoing dispute around pay and working conditions. 

This action is affecting over 140 higher education institutions across the UK.  For further background to the dispute, please see this FAQ.

The strike action will take place on the following dates:

  • Monday 25 September
  • Tuesday 26 September
  • Wednesday 27 September
  • Thursday 28 September
  • Friday 29 September

The majority of University colleagues will not be taking part in the strike action and the University will remain open.  Many teaching and assessment sessions and postgraduate research (PGR) supervision meetings will go ahead as planned.  If you are not informed that a session or supervision meeting has been cancelled or postponed, you should assume it will take place and attend as normal.

The University has a range of measures that it can implement to protect students where teaching does not take place due to industrial action including the no detriment approach.  Further information is available in this FAQ, but please also look out for communications about local arrangements in your school. 

 

Update: 7 September 2023

On 6 September 2023 the University and College Union (UCU) announced an end to the Marking and Assessment Boycott which has been in place since April.

This industrial action meant that some of our students did not receive all their marks at the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

All outstanding marking and assessment will be marked and our plan is to return missing marks as soon as we get them.  In some cases, extraordinary exam boards will need to be convened and this means the process may take a little longer.  Our aim is to have all missing marks returned by no later than the end of November.

Continuing students will receive updates from their school in the coming days with details of the timeline for the return of any missing marks.  Students should continue to check their University email account for the latest updates from their school.

 

How will the University protect students during periods of industrial action?

The majority of University colleagues will not be taking part in the strike action and many teaching and assessment sessions and postgraduate research (PGR) supervision meetings will go ahead as planned. 

If you are not informed that a session or supervision meeting has been cancelled or postponed, you should assume it will take place and attend as normal. 

We want to assure you that we will be doing everything possible to mitigate the impact of this industrial action and to enable you to learn, progress and achieve your awards.  

Where teaching and assessment is disrupted, the University will implement Emergency Guidance for programme delivery and assessment, and for any further disruption until the end of the academic year. 

The emphasis in the Emergency Guidance is to ensure fair treatment of all students to maintain academic standards and to protect student education and allow students to progress or achieve their awards.  

Detailed information on support and next steps following industrial action will also come to you from your school via email and through Canvas communities. We hope that this approach will be more tailored and relevant, focused on your specific programme or subject of study.

 

What happens next?