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This page details some frequently asked questions that you might have about the strikes and how they might affect you. If you have further questions, please get in touch with us and we will do our best to help.
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The Dundee branch of the Universities and Colleges Union (DUCU) has informed the University of their intention to undertake industrial action in response to the recently announced financial deficit.
Keep a close eye on your emails and Blackboard during these periods, as your lecturer/tutor might let you know that class will be cancelled shortly before.
The strikes are in relation to the University being unable to rule out the use of compulsory redundancy to address the financial deficit. Regular consultation has been ongoing with all the campus trade unions since November and no formal proposals to reduce staff have been made as yet.
It’s important to understand the situation and how it could affect both students and staff. If compulsory redundancies are required to reduce the financial deficit, this could impact many staff and students, and impact the overall learning experience at Dundee.
It’s your decision. Not all lecturers strike, which means some, or all, of your classes might be going ahead as normal.
Lecturers do not have to tell their students beforehand if they are going on strike – the intention of striking is to cause disruption. However, your individual lecturers might tell you in advance if they are striking via email or blackboard. This is at their discretion.
Some students choose not to attend classes in solidarity with striking staff. This is respected, but if your classes are running, you will still be marked absent so keep that in mind.
Students may be impacted by the strike action in many different ways. In light of the combined impact of these factors, the University will be taking a ‘no detriment’ approach when confirming grades and degree outcomes. This means that the Exam Boards will take strike action into account when confirming final grades and degree classifications to make sure that no-one is negatively affected.
To find out more information about what this means and how this works, please visit: dundee.ac.uk/guides/no-detriment-what-does-it-mean
The scale of the strike action is unprecedented. Therefore, it is unclear how the strike action will affect students until it happens. The University does have a duty to minimise disruption to students where possible, and the No Detriment Policy will be put in place during times of strike action.
DUSA will also be supporting students however we can during times of strike action, and this remains our top priority. You can get in touch with our Advice and Support Team, or any member of the Executive if you have any queries or concerns.
We will keep you updated on any news through this page, emails, and social media at @dusadundee
If classes are cancelled due to the strike action, then those classes will be dismissed in the calculation of your attendance record. Therefore, if you hold a Tier 4 visa, your status will not be affected by any industrial action.
If your classes are still running as normal, you will still be expected to attend.
You may see UCU members protesting outside the Tower building. Staff may ask you not to cross their picket line, but they are not allowed to prevent you from entering buildings or going about your day as normal.
Action short of a strike typically means that staff will work to the minimum of what is required by them in their own contract
In practice, this might look like:
This list is not exhaustive – it is not yet known what ASOS will mean specifically for Dundee at this time.
If you would like to find out more information about how you can support striking staff, speak to them!
University Student Services: dundee.ac.uk/student-services
DUSA Advice and Support team: dusa.co.uk/advice
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