Members of the University and College Union (UCU) yesterday began 14 days of national strike action, scheduled to take place across four weeks. 

The University of Sussex is one of 74 universities affected. 

As well as yesterday (Thursday 20 February) and today (Friday 21 February), the strike dates cover: 

• Week two – Monday 24, Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February
• Week three – Monday 2, Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March
• Week four – Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March

UCU’s disputes with UCEA (the University and College Employers Association) over pay and conditions and with UUK (Universities UK) on pensions are ongoing and will need to be resolved at a national level.

The University is aware that constructive talks are ongoing at a national level and it is hoped that resolutions to these disputes can be found quickly. 

On Wednesday, UUK and UCEA summarised this progress in a joint open letter to all staff at universities affected by strike action. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Adam Tickell, wrote to all staff ahead of the strikes, which you can read in full here. He said: “The planned strikes will be damaging to all concerned and I don’t believe that many people welcome them. 

“Whilst I recognise the difficult position that many people find themselves in, I hope for the smallest possible disruption to campus life. 

“It is extremely likely that a resolution will only be achieved through compromise.”

The University campus remains open throughout the industrial action and services, such as the Library, sports centres, support services and cafes, are operating as usual. 

On strike days, buses are coming on to campus as usual after 3pm and will continue to do so until 7.30am the following morning. Between 7.30am and 3pm they are likely to stop just outside campus on the A27 slip road and then near Falmer Station. A shuttlebus around campus is available for students and staff with a disability between 9.30am and 3pm. This will start at the North South Road bus stop, near Pevensey 1. Trains are running as normal. 

The University has shared more detailed information with staff and students on both the running of the University during industrial action and the measures put in place to mitigate the impact on students' education. Please do familiarise yourself with this guidance.   

If you are participating or have participated in the strike action, you are required to notify the institution that you have done this by submitting the online declaration form.