Calls for new ballot during last day of staff strikes
Staff on strike and supportive students marched around campus on Tuesday 24th February, for what strikers said was the last day of industrial action within the trade unions’ current strike mandate.
Imperial’s three trade unions – the University and College Union (UCU), Unite, and Unison – obtained a six-month striking mandate following a ballot of their members in September, as part of their ongoing dispute with College management over the 2024-25 pay awards. That mandate will end on March 16th, after a total of 33 days of industrial action, with both teaching-targeting strikes and general walkouts organised.
“This is the last day of the strike action, but it’s not the end of the dispute,” a striker told Felix, “and we hope that management can reopen negotiations.”
“We need to be arguing to renew our mandate,” one UCU member said on the loudspeaker, calling for “creative” ways to disrupt the university during a proposed second mandate, and suggesting “to humiliate them” by protesting during graduation.
Since the Employment Rights Act 2025 took effect this month, industrial action mandates now last for 12 months, from six months previously. Thresholds for union balloting have also been relaxed, and industrial action notice periods shortened from 14 to 10 days.
A UCU committee member invited students and staff to join the “March against the Far Right” on 28th March, after which strikers and students also held antiracist posters and clamoured “Imperial says no to hate.” Imperial College Union was reportedly asked by trade unions to support this march.
