• Questions regarding missed teaching content:
  • “Teaching and other duties due to take place on strike days have been disrupted.”

• Questions regarding whether materials have been made available to students or not:
  • “National UCU advises members not to reschedule lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action nor to share materials related to lectures or classes that have been cancelled as a result of strike action.”

• Questions regarding impacts on learning outcomes or the need for changes in assessment:
  • “Strike action is likely to have caused disruption to students’ learning. A full determination of how is not possible at this point without significant additional labour on our part that would go against our current ‘action short of a strike’.”

• If asked for any further information you think may be useful
  • [Do not provide any information beyond what you were directly asked]

As a PhD student and teaching assistant here in Cardiff, I am so proud to support the lecturers, academics, and all staff striking for change. My partner and his family are also nurses who, like you, deserve so much better. I’m going to tell you a bit about what’s happening in universities and across the country of Iran right now, as Iranians are fighting in their struggle for freedom. 

‘In the name of the God of Rainbows’- This is a sentence of a 10-year-old boy called Kian. He was a creative and intelligent young boy in Iran who was shot dead by the Police force while he was in his car with parents and younger brother.  

“Woman, Life, Freedom”, “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî”, is the slogan that Iranians have been chanting in the past 75 days in response to the Islamic Republic Regime’s fathomless violations of human rights. The slogan, in its essence, brings light to the systematic suppression of women’s rights and all minority groups in Iran. The revolution started with the death of Mahsa Amini, but according to reports, more than 400 people, including 63 children, have been killed and more than 18,000 people have been arrested since the protests began the real numbers are likely to be much higher than this. Furthermore, ethnic minorities, including Kurdish and Baloch people have been subjected to increasing suppression at ruthless levels. 

University students, like myself, and school children have joined the forefront of the revolution throughout the country by protesting, not attending classes, and writing statements to demand justice for political prisoners and victims. In return for their peaceful protests, the Regime’s security forces, specifically the Police, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Paramilitary Volunteer Militia (the Basij force), and the Plainclothes Police have raided campuses, dorms, and high schools, and have assaulted and arrested a vast number of students. Many students have been either suspended from education or have been denied entry to campuses until further notice. Several professors and lecturers have also been dismissed or suspended due to their political stance in supporting the students. 

As we are releasing this statement, many students and academics are being assaulted, detained, abducted, and held in unknown locations. Some of those detainees are being subjected to brutal interrogations, coerced confessions, torture, and rape. Some are facing wrongful convictions, in particular, death penalties issued by the Regime’s courts. The imminent risk to students’ lives and safety in Iran is extremely dire and requires immediate action and attention from all who have freedom of speech. 

This is not only the story of teachers and educational staff who are under pressure and at risk, but also young school and university students who have been tortured, killed and imprisoned. Recently a 16-year-old girl was beaten to death in front of fellow students and teachers, by security Forces who forced their way into the school. There are headteachers who are leaving their jobs or confronting the authorities because they do not want to cooperate with the regime. One headteacher was imprisoned for not letting the authorities check the CCTVs in the school as they attempted to identify students who were protesting. Just yesterday another headteacher, Dr Zahra Lori, died. After supporting her student’s she was suspended, and was under intense mental pressure from the Islamic republic over the last four weeks. Shiva Mofakheri, a teacher and mathematician, like myself, was arrested two weeks ago – her fate and whereabouts remain unknown. In Iran, every moment of life is a protest, is a conflict. The Islamic Republic regime is actually sending students to mental hospitals for protesting, and this has been condemned by the American Psychiatric association.  

We thank NEU- National Education Union- who showed their solidarity with the Cooperative council of Iranian Teachers Trade (CCITT) on the 11th November. But there is more that the world can do, so we demand the following from academia and governments:  

• To issue an official statement condemning and demanding an end to the assault on the academic community in Iran.  

• To boycott Iranian university officials and academics who have actively facilitated and are facilitating the Regime’s attacks on Iranian students and scholars; this includes preventing their participation at international events and conferences, their collaboration to scientific discourse and publications, and their presence at academic institutions.  
• To provide protective and facilitative measures for Iranian scholars at risk or in exile; measures include creating scholarships, explicit application processes; waiving tuition and application fees, and further accommodating actions. 
• To establish and promote educational activities including funding programs and scholarly research projects that raise awareness on the human rights situation in Iran; workshops, panel discussions, conferences, and publications can be called to this matter both in the short- and long-term. 
• To disengage with the Regime’s lobbyists who promote the Regime’s propaganda, and to amplify the collective voice of the people of Iran.  
• To call for a firm and unequivocal release of all political prisoners and detainees of the current revolution in Iran, and to advocate international organizations including the United Nations and all its subsidiaries to apply maximal international pressure to hold the Regime accountable for its crimes and violations against human rights. 

• To call for a halt to and abstain from any deal or action that will financially or otherwise assist the Regime. 

Your support is appreciated. We have freedom of speech here in Wales, please use it. Your silence helps the oppressor, not the oppressed. I am so happy to support all of you in the UCU and to receive support from you all. Please stand on the right side of history with us.  

In solidarity with the people of Iran, 

For Woman. Life. Freedom.

If working to contract or not undertaking voluntary activities:

•You may know that from 23 November, UCU members are taking action short of a strike (ASOS) consisting of working to contract. Because I would be entirely unable to fit the proposed activity into my 35-hour contracted weekly workload, and it is an activity I’m not contractually obliged to engage in, I am sorry to say that I will be unable to [outline requested activity].

If not covering for absent colleagues:

•You may know that from 23 November, UCU members are taking action short of a strike (ASOS) consisting of working to contract and refusing to cover for absent colleagues. Because I would be entirely unable to fit the proposed activity into my 35-hour contracted weekly workload, and it is an activity that is part of the declared ASOS, I am sorry to say that I will be unable to [outline requested activity].

If refusing to reschedule classes missed due to industrial action:

•          You may know that from 23 November, UCU members are taking action short of a strike (ASOS) consisting of working to contract and refusing to reschedule classes missed due to industrial action. Because I would be entirely unable to fit the proposed activity into my 35-hour contracted weekly workload, and it is an activity that is part of the declared ASOS, I am sorry to say that I will be unable to [outline requested activity]. I expect, however, that module learning outcomes will be met even if no classes are rescheduled.

Important: these template answers should only be used in response to particular requests. We do not need to say that we will be taking part in ASOS where this is not in response to a request that we do something that we refuse to do because of ASOS. With working to contract and voluntary activities, line managers can request a colleague does a certain activity, but we are entitled to respond by asking which other activity we should not perform, as there is no spare time available in the workload. This tends to defuse the demand and is not a breach of contract.

Wales UCU Rally at the Senedd Wed 30 Nov 12.30

12.30 Welcome from Cardiff University, University of South Wales, Open University & Cardiff Met

• Terry Driscoll USW
• Anita Pilgrim OU

12.40 Celebration of coming together and supporting each other -experiences and witnesses of impacts and ‘Michael Sheen – UCU version’ speech

• Yma o hyd -Siôn Jones and Michael Munnik

12:45 Senior staff on strike message of support

12:50 Support from students

• CU Socialist Society = George Phillips
• CU Students Union = Noah Russell tbc

12:55 Solidarity and commitment to disabled, BME and trans members

13:05 Shout out to politicians arriving for discussions with staff and students

13:10 Solidarity from Trade Unions

• RCN = Royal College of Nurses = Nicki Hughes
• CWU = Communication Workers Union = Jason Richards
• Cardiff Trades Council = Dave Bartlett 

13:20 International solidarity

Iranian speaker = Layla Sadeghi Namaghi 

13:25 Solidarity Forever – Universities version

Lyrics below:

Solidarity with UCU forever 

(Chorus)  

Solidarity forever  
Solidarity forever  
Solidarity forever  
For the union makes us strong  

When the union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run  

There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun  

For what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one  
But the union makes us strong  

Solidarity forever…  

It is we design the courses, do the teaching, mark essays,  
And work way beyond our hours to attend the open days,  
Yet they’d cut our pay and pensions till the job no longer pays,  
But the union makes us strong  

Solidarity forever…  
  

Our VCs are on three hundred K they barely toil to earn,  

Many staff are paid so badly that they wonder where to turn,  

We can break that haughty power, gain our freedom where we learn  
‘Cos the union makes us strong  
 

Solidarity forever…  

We can close the gender pay gap, end the curse of zero hours,  

Fight to work the time contracted, we can shake the ivory towers,  

Only if we stand together and unite in all our powers,  

Can the union make us strong  

Solidarity forever…  

In our hands we hold a power greater than UCEA’s gold-  

Than the USS trustees, and if we’re organized and bold,  

We can build a better uni from the ashes of the old,  

For the union makes us strong  

Solidarity forever… 
 

Original artwork by Esther Muddiman 

(Cymraeg isod)

StrikeFest!

Buy tickets here

Saturday 3 December, 1-10pm in Shift

StrikeFest is an eclectic all-dayer with festival vibes, moving from stalls, print-making, and acoustic performances earlier in the day to bands and DJs for a chance to dance in the evening.

The event will raise money for Cardiff UCU’s fighting fund. University and College Union members at 150 institutions across the UK will be taking action in a historic national strike to defend pensions, tackle pay inequality and casualisation, and fight for better pay and working conditions. We raise money to support our lowest paid and most precarious members to go on strike, because the loss of pay is most significant for these people.

We don’t want cost to be a barrier for entry so this event is pay what you can, and if you’re able to give more in solidarity with striking workers, please do! If you can’t attend the event but would still like to donate, we welcome you to do so by making a donation on this event page.

Bands and performances

• Bloodshot Canyon Brothers
• Beauty Parlour
• Tomos Lewis
•  Cosmo
•  Imran Khan – spoken word
• Ade Jonz (Excellent Skeleton)
• Mica Soft
• Louie Lane and Ella
• Gemini and Rowan (Dan’s People)
• More tbc

Stalls

·       Bristol labels will be selling their records throughout the day

·       Print your own strike merch! Bring a light-coloured tote-bag or t-shirt to print Esther Muddiman’s strike designs onto. We will also have some you can buy on the day

Acorn Renter’s Union

Bar

Cash only donation bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Please bring a reusable cup if you can, to cut down on single-use plastic waste.

Location and access

Shift is located in the basement of the Capitol Shopping Centre on Queen Street, Cardiff. The entrance is on the corner opposite Sainsbury’s, not in the shopping mall itself. There are lifts for step-free access.

CYMRAEG

StrikeFest

Dydd Sadwrn 3 Rhagfyr, 1-10pm yn Shift

Mae StrikeFest yn ddiwrnod eclectig o ŵyl, gyda stondinau, argraffu, areithiau, a pherfformiadau acwstig yn gynharach yn y dydd ac ymlaen i fandiau a DJs am gyfle i ddawnsio gyda’r nos.

Bydd y digwyddiad yn codi arian ar gyfer cronfa ymladd UCU Caerdydd. Bydd aelodau Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau mewn 150 o sefydliadau ar draws y DU yn cymryd camau mewn streic genedlaethol hanesyddol i amddiffyn pensiynau, mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau cyflog ac achlysurol, a brwydro am well cyflog ac amodau gwaith. Rydym yn codi arian i gefnogi ein haelodau ar y cyflogau isaf a mwyaf ansicr i fynd ar streic, oherwydd colli cyflog sydd fwyaf arwyddocaol i’r bobl hyn.

Nid ydym am gost fod yn rhwystr rhag mynediad felly mae’r digwyddiad hwn yn talu’r hyn a allwch, ac os gallwch chi roi mwy mewn undod â gweithwyr sydd ar streic, gwnewch hynny! Os na allwch fynychu’r digwyddiad ond yr hoffech gyfrannu o hyd, mae croeso i chi wneud hynny trwy wneud cyfraniad ar y dudalen digwyddiad hon.

Bandiau, perfformiadau a DJs

• Tomos Lewis
• Cosmo
•  Imran Khan – gair llafar
•  Ade Jonz (Excellent Skeleton)
• Louie Lane a Ella
• Mica Soft
• Gemini a Rowan (Pobl Dan)
• Bloodshot Canyon Brothers
• Beauty Parlour

…Mwy i’w gadarnhau

Stondinau ac yn y blaen

· Bydd labeli Bryste yn gwerthu eu recordiau trwy’r dydd

· Argraffwch eich nwyddau streic eich hun! Dewch â bagiau “tote” neu grys-t lliw golau i argraffu dyluniadau streic Esther Muddiman arno. Bydd gennym hefyd rai y gallwch eu prynu ar y diwrnod

Bar

Bar rhoddion arian parod yn unig gyda diodydd alcoholig a di-alcohol. Dewch â chwpan amldro os gallwch chi, i gwtogi ar wastraff plastig untro.

Lleoliad a mynediad

Mae Shift wedi’i leoli ar islawr Canolfan Siopa Capitol ar Heol y Frenhines, Caerdydd.

 Mae’r fynedfa ar y gornel gyferbyn â Sainsbury’s, nid yn y ganolfan siopa ei hun. Mae lifftiau ar gyfer mynediad heb risiau.

To contact your picket supervisor, please send a text to +44 7527 703597

Corbett Rd Entrance (SHARE & ENCAP) – Phil Parkes and Andreas Buerky

Queen’s Buildings (PHSYX) – Patrick Sutton and Christopher North

Glamorgan Building (SOCSCI & GEOPL) – Siôn Jones, Finn Bowring, Dean Stroud and Anthony Ince

Park Place outside the School of Psychology (PSYCH) – Marc Buehner and Sofia Gameiro

Park Place outside the Law Building (LAWPL) – Elisa Wynne-Hughes

Front Abacws building (COMSC) – Martin Caminada 

Back Abacws building (MATHS) – Dafydd Evans

Park Place outside the school of Modern Languages – Joey Whitfield

Corner of Park Place with Column Rd (CARBS) – Sarah Jenkins

Allensbank Rd (Heath Campus) – Paul Brennan

Main Building (McKenzie House, BIOSI, CHEMY and ELP, plus extras from other schools) – Rob Thomas 

Central Square (JOMEC) – Carrie Westwater

PGRs: your rights to strike

Cardiff UCU recognises that PGR tutors and demonstrators are often especially exposed to the financial and practical impacts of strike action. We’re fighting for all our futures in this sector, and against deep pay inequalities, impossible workloads, declining pay, and job insecurity.

PGR tutors, demonstrators, and other precarious staff will be prioritised for support from the UCU fighting fund. Cardiff UCU passed a motion in November 2022 to support casualised members, including postgraduate researchers and those employed on variable hours or fixed-term contracts, during industrial action. The goal is that more precariously employed members do not shoulder a disproportionate burden by taking part in industrial action and do receive greater support. (Full text here.)

FAQ

FAQ 1

Why are we striking? What are our demands? 2

When are we striking? 2

Can I strike as a PGR staff member? 3

What if I am not a UCU member? Can I become a UCU member? Can I afford it? 3

What do we do on strike days? 3

How do we access the striking fund and how much can we claim? 4

Do I have to tell my line manager or office that I am taking strike action? 4

What if I am an international student? Will my visa be affected? 4

What if I’m not working on the strike days – what do I do? 5

What if PGRs are penalised or targeted for participating in the strike? 5

What if I’m asked to cover for a striking member of staff? 5

What if I’m asked to reschedule? 5

Should I inform my students?  What if a student asks to come to another seminar? 5

Vote on the Student Union AGM motion on supporting industrial action 6

Why are we striking? What are our demands? 

UCU voted for a national strike over deep cuts to pensions (c. 40% for many members) and over the “Four Fights”: unmanageable workloads, casualisation and job insecurity, a decade of real-terms pay cuts and the gender, ethnic and disability pay gaps. Our demands are set out here. 

PGRs play an important part in this industrial action and your involvement is crucial in order to cause the greatest disruption possible to employers. Casualisation is a central issue in our dispute with our employers. Our demands include eliminating casualised and zero hours contracts from higher education; and converting hourly paid staff onto fractional contracts. UCU is also campaigning for PGRs to be recognised as members of staff. Read more about our demands on casualisation here. 

UCU Cardiff’s intense local campaigning backed by the strikes of 2018-20 has challenged Cardiff University’s 2-hour contracts (which they use under the banner of ‘variable-hour contracts’ for many PGRs). University management is now implementing changes to these variable-hour contracts, moving staff to fractional contracts that guarantee a minimum of 1h/week.  

UCU PGR members in Cardiff have also started grassroots campaigns in recent years that led to Cardiff UCU making it a priority to demand employment contracts for PGRs who teach. As a result of this, including work over several years, the University management is soon to introduce employment contracts for PGR Tutors and Demonstrators. These will be beneficial in terms of sick pay, annual leave, some paid training (though we believe not enough), a low level of minimum guaranteed hours (though, again, not yet enough), greater job security, stronger employment rights legally, better union protection, and other standard employment benefits. The strength of the union, including the strikes of 2018-20, and the direct involvement of UCU PGR members in the negotiations were key to the success of this campaign. 

As we monitor the implementation of contracts and continue to push for fairness, namely for part-time PGRs who are being disadvantaged by the limits on the duration of the contracts, having PGRs on the pickets will be essential. We have specific guidance on striking and action short of a strike for members on casualised contracts here.

When are we striking?

We have a national strike mandate for 6 months from 21 October 2022. UCU’s Higher Executive Committee voted to serve notice on employers of three days of strike action on Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Wednesday 30 November. HEC also voted to trigger a marking and assessment boycott in the new year and to escalate action from February unless employers negotiate a settlement with UCU members.

We are also taking Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) from Wednesday 23 November onwards. This includes working to contract; not covering for absent colleagues; removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action; not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action; and not undertaking any voluntary activities. This does not as yet include a marking and assessment boycott.

Find out more about Action Short of a Strike here.

Can I strike as a PGR staff member?

Yes!

This action requires every member with any working duties in each institution to participate so that duties cannot simply be passed on to colleagues. Casualisation is one of the key issues in the Four Fights dispute. To achieve maximum leverage it is absolutely crucial that members stand together, which is why hourly paid lecturers and PGR tutors and demonstrators will be prioritised for payments from our Cardiff UCU Hardship Fund.

What if I am not a UCU member? Can I become a UCU member? Can I afford it?

Yes! It is free for postgraduates. Joining UCU gives you access to legal advice and the strike fund, and membership is free for postgraduate researchers.

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10509/Future-of-the-profession-free-membership-FAQs

Non-UCU members who take part in legal, official industrial action have the same rights as UCU members not to be dismissed as a result of taking action. However, our strong recommendation is that you join UCU so that you have the protection of a trade union before you take part in industrial action. You have trade union protection from the date of your application to join. You can even join on the picket line.

What do we do on strike days?

Not do any work for all of the days specified by the union. This includes, for instance, time before 9am and after 5pm, and includes any activity which is part of your work such as teaching, administration, meetings, emails related to work, marking, research or conferences where you are directly or indirectly representing your employer. This includes any voluntary work that you do for the university, which falls under Action Short of a Strike (ASOS).

It also means not doing any preparation for work that you are due to do when you return to work after you strike. In a nutshell, if you are employed at one of the institutions on strike, do not do any work at all on strike days.

If your external commitments arise from your employment with the institution where a strike is taking place, whether they are offline or online, then you should not fulfil them. For example, if you were due to attend a conference in your capacity as a lecturer or to give a seminar at a strike-bound university you should not go. All universities in the UK are on strike during this round of action.

This includes the digital picket line, including work-related emails, tweets, or online admin – find out more here.

The best possible thing you can do is contact your UCU branch and volunteer to help at the picket lines! Our email is ucu@cardiff.ac.uk .

How do we access the striking fund and how much can we claim?  

Members can access the National UCU Fighting Fund as well as our local Hardship Fund which will prioritize PGRs and casual staff. Find out more here.

For the Cardiff UCU Hardship Fund, when PGR staff are due to submit their timesheets for payment, the Branch will accept those and make payment for any loss of income on strike days (according to the limits of the strike fund rules) into your bank account. Full details of how this will work are going to follow shortly for all UCU members.

If you have any questions about this just drop us an email at ucu@cardiff.ac.uk .

Do I have to tell my line manager or office that I am taking strike action?

No! You are under no obligation to inform management in advance as to whether you will be taking part in strike action or action short of a strike. UCU will provide your employer with all the information about the action required by law including those categories of members who we are calling on to take action.

Once you are back to work following the strike action, you should respond truthfully to any query from your employer as to whether you have taken or are taking industrial action. You should not, however, respond to any such query while you are on strike.

What if I am an international student? Will my visa be affected?

UCU has made a full briefing on your legal rights here for Tier 2, Tier 5, Global Talent (Tier 1) and Tier 4 student visa holders.

If you are on a Tier 4 visa, there is no specific prohibition on you taking part in industrial action, nor any requirement for a sponsor to withdraw sponsorship on that basis. Where someone on a Tier 4 visa is employed and taking part in lawful strike action that prevents them working as normal, the restrictions on absence that relate to Tier 2 migrants do not apply.

What if I’m not working on the strike days – what do I do?

You can legally take part in industrial action (striking or action short of a strike) for research, teaching, and other paid work that you do outside of being PGRs/PhD students (e.g. if you do paid work as a graduate teaching assistant, research assistant, or professional services at or above grade 6). If you do not undertake such work for your institution, you cannot legally take part in industrial action from your postgraduate research work, however you can and should still support this action, including by not crossing the picket lines. Your SU team have organised PGR work spaces in the Student Union for strike days so you can avoid crossing picket lines on strike days – see the SU website.

UCU believes that postgraduate researchers should be considered as staff for all their work. Please see the PGR as staff campaign.

What if PGRs are penalised or targeted for participating in the strike?

Hourly paid or paid-by-assessment colleagues cannot be penalised more harshly than permanent/salaried colleagues. Aside from pay deductions, it is unlawful to target or penalise any member of staff, including tutors, for taking part in industrial action – Cardiff UCU support any members who face unfair treatment and help can be requested here.

What if I’m asked to cover for a striking member of staff?

You can and should decline.

What if I’m asked to reschedule?

Do not agree to reschedule. Rescheduling undermines our strike action and increases our already too-heavy workloads.

Should I inform my students?  What if a student asks to come to another seminar?

Students are already being informed by the university that their classes may be disrupted by strike action. If you want to, you can tell them in person that a teaching session will be disrupted, or email them to warn them that teaching may be disrupted by strike action. You can remind students of the reasons for the strike, and ask them to direct their complaints to the Head of School.

We suggest saying no to students asking to switch seminars, and telling them that we would appreciate their support for the strike. You can link them to the strike FAQs and ask them to email your Head of School. 

Vote on the Student Union AGM motion on supporting industrial action

On the 24^th November, the Students’ Union (SU) will be hosting one of the biggest democratic events of the year. Similar to last year, a motion has been proposed that resolves to mandate the Students’ Union to support the National UCU Industrial Action taking place during the academic year 2022/2023. All students attending the AGM will have the chance to vote for or against the motion – read it in the agenda here.

It is important that this motion passes to ensure that the SU and Sabbatical Officers can continue to support and protect the PGR community and staff members during any industrial action throughout this (2022/23) academic year.

The motion’s resolutions include items such as: a mandate for the Sabbatical Officer Team to work with UCU and lobby the UEB to meet the demands of university staff and PGRs, raise awareness and share information regarding UCU industrial action, provide wellbeing support for all students affected by the strikes, and allows the VP Postgraduate (Angie Flores Acuña) to encourage students to support and engage with rallies and on picket lines.

AGM event details:

• Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM, 24th November 2022
• Location: Great Hall – 1st Floor, Students’ Union
• Requirements: Student ID

More information regarding the AGM and motion can be found here.

I cannot attend but I would like to vote: what do I do? 

If you can’t attend SU AGM but a friend can, you can register a proxy vote. Click on the link above or Google ‘cardiffstudents AGM’ – click on link to the form for a proxy vote. This must be done ASAP.

This schedule is also available as a PDF.

WEEK 1, 21-25 NOVEMBER – STRIKE DAYS 24 AND 25 NOVEMBER

Information stall:

• What: Pop by to find information, pick up some UCU leaflets, stickers, and posters, and/or ask us any questions about the strikes, including what it is all about. For students and staff.
• When: 11.00am-3.00pm, Tue 22 Nov; 11.00am-1.00pm Wed 23 Nov. If you can spare 30 min to staff the stall in any of these days, please add your name to the spreadsheet we’re keeping.
• Where: Students’ Union, 2^nd floor Main Entrance

Pickets:

• What: A picket line is where workers and union reps (‘picketers’ or ‘pickets’) stand outside a workplace to tell other people why they are striking and encourage them not to cross a picket line in solidarity with striking workers. Bring instruments to make music or some noise and don’t forget to wear pink.
• When: 8.30-11am, Thu 24 Nov and Fri 25 Nov.
• Where: locations around campus, including the Main Building, Queen’s Building, Law Building, Glamorgan Building, Corbett Rd entrance to the John Percival Building, Abacws Building, and Allensbank Rd for the Heath campus. Contact your departmental rep or ucu@cardiff.ac.uk for details. If you are organising a picket in your school, please let us know by completing our webform. If there is no picket organised for your school, please join the picket in the Main Building.

Rallies:

• What: Join our strike rallies to hear solidarity speeches from other unions and organisations, and to share experiences and show our strength. If you would like to speak or do a creative act at the rally, get in touch with Phillip Allsopp (allsoppPJ@cardiff.ac.uk). Details of speakers will be circulated very soon on our social media platforms.
• When: 11.15am-12.00pm, Thu 24 Nov, Fri 25 Nov *Please note: The Friday Rally is now at noon*
• Where: Gather outside the gates of the Main Building, facing Park Place, opposite Centre for Student Life, Students Union, and Greggs. Depending on numbers, we might head to Alexandra Gardens.

Teach-outs & meetings:

• What: Teach-outs are free public events addressing themes and questions raised by the strike. Students, staff and members of the public are welcome.
• When and Where:

Mon 21 Nov

• PGR Tutors: know your rights on strike action. 6pm, Centre for Student Life room 1.26 or on Zoom (hybrid event).

Wed 23 Nov

• Banner Making session. join staff and students making creative banners for our pickets and rallies. 4-6pm in the Students Union ‘Y Plas’ Food Hall (2^nd floor).

Thu 24 Nov

• Tour of picket lines. Meet 9am outside the Centre for Student Life / Student Union steps. Tour ends by joining the rally at 11.00am. For students.
  • Cardiff UCU working groups lunch. 1-2pm. In the Students Union ‘Y Plas’ Food Hall (2^nd floor). Ever been curious about our working groups around Workload, Anti-Casualisation, Equality & Diversity, University Democratisation. Join us for lunch, where we will update and discuss plans. For UCU members.

Fri 25 Nov

• Tour of picket lines. Meet 9am outside the Centre for Student Life / Student Union steps. Meet for rally at 12.00 outside Main Building (Park Place side). For students.
• Teach-outs
  • What and when:
    2.00-2.40pm ‘The Hostile Environment in HE’ (Lizzy Willmington, LAWPL)
    2.40-3.20pm ‘Why We Need More Strikes’ (Steve Davies, WISERD)
    3.20-4.00pm ‘Why and When Social Movements Win’ (Emmy Eklundh, LAWPL)
• Where: Rooms 3C and 3D – 3rd Floor, Students’ Union

Sun 27 Nov

• Book launch: ‘Workers Can Win: A Guide to Organising at Work’ by Ian Allison. 4.30pm in the Cathays Community Centre. This event is not being organised by our branch, but some of our members are involved and it feels very timely for our members. Book your free place through Eventbrite.

Coming up in Week 2:

Wed 30 Nov

• Strike day. Events in Cardiff and London. If you would like to be part of the delegation going to London, please contact Patrick Sutton (suttonpj1@cardiff.ac.uk).

Sat 3 Dec

• Cardiff UCU benefit gig – Shift (basement of Capitol Centre) 1-10pm