Industrial Action: How Your Students’ Union Supports You

You may be aware that there has been industrial action during this academic year at Imperial College London. Industrial action refers to temporary, collective action taken by staff in response to concerns about employment-related issues and decision-making by their employer.

What is Industrial Action and how will I be affected?

In the UK, industrial action is subject to legal requirements. For example, action such as strikes can only be taken by staff who are members of a recognised trade union that has conducted a lawful ballot in support of industrial action, and advance notice of any action must be given.

If you would like to read more about industrial action, a number of trade unions provide general explanatory resources online, including the TUC and Unison. Further impartial guidance is also available from ACAS.

Information specific to Imperial College London, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the University website.

Union Council & Our Students’ Union Stance

Imperial College Union represents all Imperial students and works to protect and improve your student experience. Our official positions are set by Union Council, which is made up of student representatives elected by you.

In November, Union Council debated and approved a paper setting out the Union’s stance on the Joint Trade Unions’ industrial action. You can read the paper here: ICU Council Stance on Joint Trade Unions’ Industrial Action

This stance guides the Students’ Union’s actions unless it is reviewed or changed by Union Council or by an all-student vote (referendum).

As a result of the approval of the paper above, the Students’ Union will:

Support University staff and workers participating in industrial action.
Continue providing the Trade Unions with logistical support for their picketing material.
Support the Trade Unions’ stances in their negotiations with the University.
Mandate the relevant Officer Trustees to send messages to their relevant contacts in University management indicating the Union’s support for staff and workers on strike and the Union’s support for the Joint Trade Unions’ arguments in their negotiations.
Assess, with PGR, PGT, and Undergraduate student representatives, the level of disruption of industrial action at PGR, PGT, and Undergraduate levels.
Tell casual workers working at Union outlets that they have the right to join the relevant Trade Union for their line of work, and that they are allowed to participate in industrial action

What Does this Mean in Practice?

Supporting staff while prioritising students:
The Students’ Union supports staff taking lawful industrial action while also advocating for mitigations so that students are not academically disadvantaged.

We expect the university to:

Minimise disruption where possible
Provide alternative teaching arrangements where appropriate
Ensure fair treatment in assessments, deadlines, feedback, and progression
Put additional support in place for students whose studies are significantly affected

While the Students’ Union does not negotiate pay or employment terms (these are matters between the University and recognised trade unions) Officer Trustees will support trade unions’ requests to re-enter negotiations regarding the pay offer, where appropriate. They will also raise the impact on students directly with University leadership and advocate for appropriate mitigation measures.

Engagement with Trade Unions
The Students’ Union:

Provides agreed logistical support for picketing
Attends Trade Union-hosted meetings where appropriate
Engages constructively with staff representatives to understand the impact on students

Capturing student impact:
Elected student reps were provided with a form to capture feedback on disruption which they could share with students. Officers have been collating responses and sharing regular summaries and case studies with the University senior leadership team.

Casual Workers:
Casual workers employed by the ICU have been informed of their right to join a relevant trade union and to take part in lawful industrial action.

Student Choice and Picket Lines:

Students are not expected to participate in industrial action.

Students are legally allowed to cross picket lines
Students should not feel pressured to cross or not cross a picket line
The Union supports students making the decision that is right for them

We ask that all members of our community engage respectfully with one another during periods of industrial action.

What Can I Do If I’m Affected or Want to Share My Views?

You can:

Make a formal complaint about the impact you have faced to the university; you can do this with the support of the ICU Advice Service.
Share feedback on how the industrial action has affected your studies so, the Union can better understand the impacts when our student leaders discuss it with the University.
Contact your elected student representatives to share your views.
Read the Union Council paper to understand how the stance was agreed.
Talk with your lecturers and members of staff at the university, asking them about the strike action and how you can support them.

Advice and support

The Students’ Union Advice Service operates independently from Imperial and provides free, confidential, and impartial support to students.

You can request advice via our website here.

Making a complaint

If industrial action has significantly affected your studies and you believe mitigations have not been applied appropriately, you may wish to make a formal complaint to the University. Complaints should focus on the impact on your studies, rather than on individual staff members.