Sheffield Students’ Union has issued a statement following the vote of SU Council to support striking lecturers.
The Officer team, who make up the Student Executive Committee, proposed a motion to the first meeting of Council this academic year, which pledged to actively support the University and College Union members striking across campus, while also prioritising student welfare.
These campaigns will be led by Education Officer Charlie Porter and Welfare Officer Beren Maddison respectively.
A statement from the SU said: “We’re disappointed that a resolution couldn’t be made before strike action was required, and as a Students’ Union we are in a complicated position.
“The Students’ Union will continue to represent student interests in negotiations between UCU and the University, and keep students regularly and properly informed during the industrial action.
“We have committed to ensuring the SU building remains a welcoming place for students to gather and study with friends, in a calm space where everybody feels valued. SU outlets and services will be running business as usual. In addition, Levels 2 and 3 will be dedicated to student support and welfare, and level 4 will host strike support activity.
“We’ll keep students informed and up to date as these strands of activity develop ahead of 25 November.”
Read more: Sheffield lecturers to go on strike in less than three weeks
The University of Sheffield is one of over 40 institutions in the country where lecturers are set to go on strike in two weeks over pensions and pay inequality. UCU members will go on strike for eight working days from Monday 25 November, with the strikes ending on Wednesday 4 December.
This is a reduction on the number of strike days from the UCU strikes in spring 2018, where lecturers went on strike for 14 working days across four weeks.
The Students’ Union also voted to support the UCU in their 2018 pensions dispute, but was required to hold another vote in order to support the campus trade union this time around.
