There are funds available to provide strike pay for members who have wages deducted for taking industrial action. There are two sources of funds:

  1. UCU Fighting Fund – This is a national fund which any member in good standing can apply to. For further details and to apply, click here. UCU has confirmed that the Fighting Fund will also be available to members who suffer 100% deductions for action short of a strike (ASOS). Members can claim up to 11 days from the Fighting Fund for strike action, and 9 additional days for 100% ASOS deductions. The level of payment depends on your salary. The first day of strike action is not covered by the national fund.
  2. QMUCU local strike fund – This is a fund established from local branch reserves to supplement the national fund. The principles for distributing the local strike fund were established at branch meetings on 3rd February and 2nd March 2022 (see below). The local strike fund works by daily allowance. All members can claim, regardless of contract type. It is easy to apply and all requests will be processed as soon as possible. To apply, please complete the application form here and return to strikefund@qmucu.org

Principles of QMUCU Strike Fund 2022

The Branch Committee will establish a Panel of at least 3 members (including the Branch Treasurer) to assess claims and oversee payments made from the Fund. The Panel’s decision in all matters will be final. A form for making claims will be made available.

For the national fund, claims are capped at £50 per strike day (or day of 100% deductions for ASOS) for members earning £30,000 or more gross per annum and £75 per strike day (or day of 100% deductions for ASOS) for members earning less than £30,000 gross per annum. This is to ensure fair distribution of funds.

As a guide amount, QMUCU suggests members apply to the local fund at the same daily rate as the national fund.

QMUCU recognises some members will need to draw on the strike fund more than others and to that end will endeavour to support members in excess of the daily rate and according to need, including claiming up to the full amount deducted in combination with the national fund.

In making assessments, the panel will prioritise claims from members with low monthly pay, and:

  • on casualised, temporary hourly paid or fractional contracts; 
  • with costs associated with being a migrant worker in the UK
  • at risk of rent or mortgage arrears;
  • single salary household, or with a whole household income where more than one income is affected by the strike;
  • with dependents;
  • at risk of other forms of financial hardship.

Those not in these categories may still apply but they are asked to apply to the national fund in the first instance, and to apply to the local fund to cover those days where funds from the national fighting fund are not available. Claims from both funds can be made concurrently, but should normally cover different days. However, in situations of financial hardship, the branch will still consider any claims from the local fund for days already covered by the national fund. If you are worried about the financial impact of pay deductions, please get in touch with the branch as soon as possible.

Donate to our strike fund

Following the announcement that QMUL intends to deduct 100% pay indefinitely for ASOS, the branch also established a crowdfunder to build its reserves. QMUCU members are facing a vicious employer tactic in deducting 100% for ASOS, which it is of sector-wide importance to stand down and defeat. You can read more about this issue here.

Members of QMUCU and other QMUL staff with higher incomes and more secure finances are encouraged to make individual donations to the strike fund to support their colleagues. As a guide, you might consider donating your remaining income above the level which would be paid to you by the strike fund.

We are calling on other branches and sister trade unions, as well as members of the public, to donate to our fund. The more money we raise, the more confident members can be that they have the support needed to win this crucial fight. All donations are kept in a separate hardship fund account which is sequestered from regular branch funds. Thank you for your donations!