Template responses for responding to requests under ASOS

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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.