On Tuesday 3rd December, Unison, UCU, UNITE and the EIS will go on strike to demand a raise in pay for all staff above the yearly increase of 1% currently offered by Universities.

As your Union, we will be working to ensure that the upcoming action does not create a divide between staff and students on campus. Equally, we are committed to defending both the lecturers and staff’s right to strike, and proud to state our support for this action. The MDXSU students officers will be present at the action on the day.

The four trade unions (UCU, UNISON, Unite & EIS) have a democratic mandate from their members to hold this planned one-day action, and we hope that it will precipitate a speedy resolution to the ongoing pay dispute in a way that provides a fair and sustainable settlement for higher education staff.

How will this affect you?

The decision to strike is not made lightly, and we encourage you to support your lecturers in this action. If your lectures and seminars are cancelled, please be patient and bear in mind that a successful strike will benefit the living standards of all staff on campus - including those hardest hit by low wages and rising costs in living standards, such as university cleaners, caterers, and administrators.

If you decide to join the strike in solidarity, rest assured that we will call on the university to ensure that no student who decides to stand with their lecturer on the 3rd is unfairly punished.

What is the MDXSU’s position?

Whilst the Students’ Union has no formal policy regarding this particular demonstration, we have a democratic mandate to support the right of staff to take industrial action.

Having said that, this is a national pay dispute and in order to minimise the impact of a strike on Middlesex students, we call on those involved at that national level to find a resolution.

Here is a full account of our stance:

1. MDXSU believes that lecturers and other staff in our universities and colleges should be properly supported and remunerated. We believe that fair pay is an issue of fairness in itself, but also note that there are very clear benefits to students that pay is at a level which attracts excellent staff, and supports the maintenance of a happy and motivated workforce.

2. MDXSU believes the introduction of market forces into higher education are forcing universities to make rash economic decisions. Instead of investing in quality education, universities are engaging in beauty contests rather than investing in quality education. Rather than allowing students and staff to be pitted against each other, we believe students and staff should find common ground and wherever possible, work together to defend education.

3. MDXSU support the rights of all staff to challenge unfair practices, including challenging pay and conditions which they democratically deem to be unfair.

4. MDXSU does not advocate industrial action which recognises industrial action which unnecessarily and seriously impacts on students. Whilst we support striking as a legitimate means of raising  concerns, those that seriously disrupt academic life (i.e. the marking and assessment of work) are counterproductive to the students we represent.

5. MDXSU notes that it is entirely possible to undertake industrial action in a manner which limits negative impacts on students, and which actually encourages active support from students over issues of common concern.