΢ÃÜȦ

General information

Which trade unions are taking industrial action?

The current mandate for UCU action began on 1 April and will be in place for six months.

What is the current dispute about?

The ΢ÃÜȦ University and College Union (UCU) has asked its members to take industrial action over the University’s inability to guarantee there will be no compulsory redundancies arising from the ongoing institutional change the University is undertaking in light of the current financial situation. This action follows a process of internal dispute resolution which failed to resolve concerns raised by ΢ÃÜȦ UCU. To resolve the dispute, UCU asked that the University commit to making no compulsory redundancies.

The Vice-Chancellor and representatives of Human Resources met with UCU on 7 may, and offered to commit to making no compulsory redundancies as a result of organisational restructures this calendar year, as well as a number of other commitments.

The UCU consulted with their members at a branch meeting on Thursday (8 May), and held a vote on whether to accept the University's offer. Following that vote, we have been informed that the industrial action planned for today (Friday 9 May) onwards has now been called off and no further action will be taken during the existing ballot mandate, which ends on 30 September 2025.

Members have also agreed to our proposal that we will not deduct pay for the action taken to date, provided staff replace any teaching or education lost to strike action and, where possible, make up any other work missed or disrupted.

Details regarding the industrial action, including the full offer made to UCU, can be found here.

About industrial action

Who can take part in the industrial action?

Where a mandate for industrial action is obtained and a trade union calls on its members to take industrial action, those trade union members who were balloted are able to participate in industrial action. It is also possible for staff who choose to join that trade union after the ballot to take part in the industrial action.

Trade union members from unions which do not have a mandate for action, or which are not calling on their members to take industrial action, cannot participate in industrial action.

What is action short of a strike (ASOS)?

ASOS is when trade union members engage in an action that falls short of a full withdrawal of labour, sometimes known as partial performance of the contractual duties.

This can take many forms including a refusal to carry out specific duties or responsibilities.

What is a picket line? Can I cross it? 

During strike action, it is possible that picket lines of striking staff might be present around the University campus outside various buildings. Picketing is a lawful activity where staff who support the strike stand outside their normal place of work to inform other staff members why they are striking. Pickets should only include individuals who are employed by the University. Picketing should be undertaken peacefully and it must not prevent those who are not striking to go to work or continue doing their usual work. 

Is there a current mandate for action in place at the University?

Whilst UCU are still currently in dispute with the University, and have an active mandate for action, the terms of the agreement with UCU over a commitment to no compulsory redundancies in 2025, mean that UCU will not call on members to take any form of industrial action before 30 September 2025. 

Read full details of the agreement

What to do if you participated in industrial action

Who should I inform if participated in industrial action?

If you participated in the strike action, you must complete a .

You must complete and submit the notification form when you return to work following your participation in strike action.

If you chose to take any form of ASOS, whether you or your trade union consider it to be a breach of contract or not, you are required to complete the  at the end of each week that you participate in ASOS. Ensure you click ‘submit’ when you have completed all of the information.

This applies even though the University has committed not to deduct pay from those colleagues who took action on the basis that any teaching activities missed will be replaced and other work will be caught up as appropriate. This is so that we have an accurate understanding of work missed so that we can ensure it is addressed.

What work should I prioritise following the industrial action?

Our aim during industrial action is to minimise the impact on students. For this reason, we ask all staff to prioritise, where possible, student-facing activities. Your Head of School or Professional Services Director will be able to provide further guidance on what should be prioritised.

Can my Head of School ask me to carry out work that was not carried out due to my participation in strike action?

Yes, it is a reasonable management instruction to require staff to reschedule and teach sessions cancelled due to strike action, but they should be clear with you on what work should be prioritised and de-prioritised.

Impacts on pay, pensions and deductions

What will be the impact on my pay if I take part in the strike action?

Participation in strike action will result in a breach of your contract of employment. Consequently, if you choose to take strike action, the University can deduct  a day’s pay deducted for each day that you are striking. If you choose to take strike action you are required to complete the  at the end of each week of participation. The daily rate of pay for calculating pay deductions will be deemed to be 1/365th of the full time equivalent salary, pro-rated for part time staff whose working pattern includes part-day working on strike days. Graduate Teaching Assistants who take action will not be paid for any of the hours of work they were scheduled to undertake.

As part of the agreement reached to end the strike action in May 2025, the University will not deduct pay for the action taken to date, provided staff replace any teaching or education lost to strike action and, where possible, make up any other work missed or disrupted.

Refer to the University’s principles and approach to pay deductions. The withholding of pay is without prejudice to any other right or remedy which the University has in relation to staff who participate in industrial action, including any claim for damages for breach of contract.

What will be the impact on pay if I take action short of a strike?

The University has a long-standing position that partial performance is not accepted, and reserves the right to withhold up to 100 per cent of pay. The full position is outlined in the University’s principles and approach to pay deductions, which governs how the University manages situations of dispute resolution including those involving industrial action.

I am a GTA/casual worker and I took part in the industrial action. What will be the impact on my pay?

GTAs and casual workers who participate in the industrial action should complete the .

As part of the agreement reached to end the strike action in May 2025, the University committed to not deducting pay for the action taken to date, provided staff replace any teaching or education lost to strike action and, where possible, make up any other work missed or disrupted. Following the cessation of the industrial action in May 2025, GTAs can submit timesheets to claim for work that they subsequently undertake to replace that lost due to taking strike action. Timesheets must be signed in the normal way to confirm the work undertaken. 

I am a GTA/casual worker and I couldn't do my work as someone I was supporting has not turned up due to strike action, what happens to my pay?

You will be paid for the hours you were due to work on that day. You will need to inform your departmental contact who will process the hours for payroll as per the normal process. 

You may be asked instead to undertake alternative, grade-appropriate tasks for which you are suitably skilled and/or trained to undertake at the time you were previously scheduled to work.

Visas

I’m an international member of staff. Will taking part in strike action have an impact on my Tier 2/Skilled Worker sponsorship?

Tier 2 and Skilled Worker visa holders will not be penalised for some absences from paid work in the UK, which includes engaging in legally-organised industrial action. This means that a Tier 2/Skilled Worker visa holder's leave to remain will not be affected if such absences cause their salary to fall below the required threshold. If a sponsored worker is absent because they are participating in industrial action which has not been legally organised, this will be considered as an unauthorised absence and can lead to failure to act in accordance with stated visa conditions.

I am an international staff member but I am not sponsored as a Tier 2/Skilled worker. Will taking part in strike action have an impact on my visa?

There is no specific impact on visa status for someone taking part in strike action. However, if you are extending your family visa or applying for indefinite leave to remain as the family member of a British/settled national, please be aware that the UKVI has eligibility criteria around proof of income. There are numerous ways this can be evidenced, including income from a partner or reliance on savings. The immigration rules and guidance do not permit any reduction to the income level that needs to be met on the grounds of taking part in strike action. We would recommend seeking independent legal advice if you are concerned as to how to provide evidence demonstrating that you meet relevant financial thresholds.

Further information about the required proof of income can be found on .

Health, safety and wellbeing

How do you support staff during the industrial action?

During industrial action, your Head of School/Department, or their nominated deputy, should be in touch with information on action, and support for you. Please speak to them, or your immediate line manager, if you have any questions or concerns. You can also email industrial.action@sheffield.ac.uk

The  offer a number of routes for general support.

Do we require a departmental health and safety representative and a trained first aider during strike action?

There is no legal requirement for a departmental health and safety representative. If your trained first aider is on strike or absent and your department requires first aid response, please call security control (ext 4444), who will provide first aid response as needed.