You might have heard about industrial action at Exeter and be wondering what it is, what is happening and what it means for you.

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What’s happened and why

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Earlier this term, Exeter's University and College Union (UCU) trade union branch, (an organised group of workers) representing mostly academics, voted on taking industrial action in response to the University's staffing cuts.

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Industrial action is one way staff can push for change when they feel their concerns haven't been addressed through discussions with their employer.

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A majority of UCU members who voted supported both strike action and action short of a strike (ASOS). Since then, UCU and the University have been in discussions but haven't been able to reach an agreement.

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As a result, UCU has announced ASOS. This means academics taking part will still work their usual days, including teaching students and providing supervision, but will only carry out work that's part of their contracts. They won't take on extra duties or work beyond their contracted hours.

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‍What this means for you

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At this stage, the University has said they’re not expecting changes to teaching, supervision or assessments as a result of ASOS. We'll keep you updated if anything changes, explain what it means for your studies and make sure you know where to find support.

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For now, you should continue with your studies and assignments as normal unless you're told otherwise. If you've got questions about your teaching, assessments or supervision, your department info point is there to help.

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What we’re doing + how to have your say‍

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We know students will have different views about industrial action. You might want to stand in solidarity with your lecturers [colleagues PGRs], be worried about the impact on your studies or feel somewhere in between. Whatever your perspective, your views matter.

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If your course or student experience has been negatively affected, talk to us or your academic rep.

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As your independent Students' Guild, we're here to represent you. Sharing your experiences with us helps us understand what's happening on the ground, ask questions, and present an accurate picture to the University, to make sure students' collective voices are heard where decisions are made. We're pushing to make sure your education and student experience remain a priority.

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Find out more about industrial action

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Mia + Edie

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Your Full-Time Officers, students like you.

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