Supporting you during industrial action

A small number of staff at the University of Brighton are taking industrial action as part of a local dispute over changes we have made to our academic workforce.

The majority of staff across the University are not taking part in this industrial action, meaning most students will not be impacted.

If you’re at all concerned or want to know more, this page is designed to answer some of the more commonly asked questions you may have.

This page was last updated on 3 October 2023.

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When are strikes happening?

The University of Brighton branch of the University and College Union (UCU) has been taking continuous strike action since Monday 3 July 2023.

So far, only a very small number of staff have declared that they have taken part in this. Any disruption to planned teaching has been limited to a small number of courses.

We expect that the majority of students will remain unaffected.

What is the strike action about?

Earlier this year, the University consulted with staff and trade unions on plans to make changes to our academic workforce.

These changes were, in part, our response to growing financial challenges facing universities across the UK and the need to make financial savings. They were also about making sure our staffing reflected the types of courses students want to study and the ways in which our students have told us they want to learn.

In some of our schools, we were able to make the necessary savings through voluntary redundancies. In other areas, however, we weren’t able to do this and as a result compulsory redundancies have been required.

In total, 82 colleagues left the University under voluntary redundancy, with 22 compulsory redundancies. UCU have said they will continue to strike unless the compulsory redundancies are rescinded.

Are all staff at the University going on strike?

No. Staff can take part in the action should they choose to do so, whether they are a union member or not. Members of staff who choose not to take part will be working normally.

Only a small number of staff have so far declared they are taking part in strike action.

Will University buildings/facilities be closed during the strike? 

No. We expect all our buildings including school offices, halls of residence, libraries, hospitality outlets and computer rooms to be open as normal.

If there is a picket line does that mean I can still come into Uni? 

Yes. All students, non-striking staff and visitors are legally entitled to cross a picket line and should not be obstructed from doing so.

Our #NeverOK pledge says that everyone in our University community has a right to always be treated with dignity and respect, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to any behaviour that contradicts our values.

If you’re affected by harassment of any kind, you can use our Disclosure Tool to inform us of an incident, either with your name or anonymously.

Will I still be able to access support services and my SSGT? 

Yes. We expect all student support services, including Student Support and Guidance Tutors (SSGTs), to be available as normal. Students can also access the Togetherall service.

How will I know whether my teaching sessions will take place? 

We anticipate very limited disruption in most schools. However, be aware that staff members who are striking do not need to inform the University in advance that they are doing so. If you are contacted by your lecturer to say that a teaching session is cancelled because they are on strike, please contact your School office as the teaching session may still go ahead with support from other staff.

Please also check your personalised timetable (via My Brighton) on a daily basis and look out for emails or My Studies announcements. Your Dean of School will contact you should they believe that there may be sustained disruption as a result of strike action in your School.

What happens to any teaching that I might miss during the strike? 

We want to reassure you that no student will be unfairly disadvantaged because of strike action. Colleagues across the University will be working together to ensure that, should there be an impact on your educational experience, there will be opportunities to address this.

Our focus will be on ensuring all students can achieve their learning outcomes to progress to the next year/stage of their studies or graduate with their degree award this year.

My course has requirements on attendance, how will the strike action affect this? 

We will ensure that any absences due to strike action are noted and no students will be disadvantaged by this. If you are an international student with a visa sponsored by the university, please be assured that should any of your contact points, including classes, seminars, lectures or meetings with tutors and supervisors, be cancelled, this will be recorded as an authorised absence and have no impact on your attendance record or visa status.

Am I entitled to a refund on my fees if my learning was disrupted by the strike action? 

We are monitoring the impact of the strike action on student learning. If needed, plans will be put in place to ensure students are still appropriately supported to meet the learning outcomes of their course to allow them to progress to the next year/stage or graduate with their degree award this year. Some of our students may also be contacted by their tutors or lecturers with information about the plans that they have put in place.

If you have any concerns about changes to your course as a result of strike action, please contact your School Operations Manager via your School office. You can also find out about our complaints procedures here.

Will any allowance be made for lost learning on the grading of assessments and examinations? 

Adjustments will be made to assessments and examinations where appropriate to ensure that no students are materially disadvantaged as a direct result of the strike action.

Will my placement be affected? 

We do not expect any work placements to be affected by the strike action at the University.

Who will support me on my placement if my placement tutor is on strike? 

If you require support while on placement, contact your Head of Practice Learning and Development or your School office.