What is a strike and how can I take part?
A strike is a form of industrial action in which workers collectively stop work to protest issues such as low pay or poor conditions, using disruption to exert pressure on employers and negotiate improvements.
For a strike to be lawful, unions must hold a formal ballot and provide advance notice to employers. For the current strikes, UNISON has balloted SOAS workers and been given a legal mandate to proceed.
Of the members who voted, over 80% were in favour of taking strike action. If you want to take part, you can join SOAS UNISON at any time—even on the morning of a strike day.
When are the strikes happening?
For the current mandate, strikes have already taken place on the 10th, 11th, 24th and 25th of March. Future strikes are planned for the 13th and 14th of May.
Any future dates will be communicated to local UNISON members via email, here on the website and through leaflets and letters in the workplace.
What is a picket line and how can I join in?
Picketing is a peaceful means of protest which involves striking members gathering outside of their workplace. Pickets allow members to engage with passers-by and non-striking colleagues, share information about the dispute, build support and show solidarity with colleagues.
Anyone is welcome to join the picket alongside union members, including family and friends.
Information about pickets will be communicated to members alongside confirmation of strike dates.
Will there be consequences if I take part?
Participation in this strike action is safeguarded under UK employment law.
If you are a member of a recognised union, you cannot face dismissal, disciplinary action, or any detriment for taking part.
This protection applies to all members of staff employed by SOAS, including apprentices and workers on fixed-term or part-time contracts. If you are unsure, please contact the SOAS UNISON branch directly.
If you feel pressured or intimidated by your colleagues or line manager for participating in or showing support for the strike, please contact your SOAS UNISON representative or email the branch for immediate advice and support.
Who do I need to tell if I want to take part?
You do not need to anyone you intend to strike, including your line manager. UNISON encourages members not to give advance notice of their intent to strike.
All employees will be asked by SOAS whether they took part in strikes after they take place. This is for payroll purposes only.
What will happen to my pay if I take part?
You will not be paid by SOAS for each day you are on strike this can also affect your pension contributions.
UNISON will provide up to £50 of pay to each striking member for each day they participate in the strikes.
The local SOAS branch has a hardship fund and will be able to provide additional financial support to members upon application.
To receive strike, pay and/or hardship pay, you will need to submit an online form. The form will be circulated to members via email following each round of industrial action.
Neither strike or hardship pay, either individually or in combination, will exceed the regular daily salary a member has lost due to participating in the strikes.
You will not need to pay tax on any strike pay or hardship pay from the union.
What is the purpose of the strike?
This strike has been nationally organised after higher education employers offered a 1.4% pay rise across the UK. That increase is far below any measure of inflation, so workers are losing real-terms pay. This offer amounts to a pay cut.
This pay offer is especially unfair when compared to the 3.8% average increase across the public sector, which is a more realistic response to the ongoing cost of living pressures we all face. Despite working in similar conditions and facing the same financial challenges, we are being asked to accept a cut to our pay.
This offer follows on from 17 years of similar below-inflation pay offers given at the national level. These cuts have resulted in higher-education workers losing up to 30% of their pay.
If this year’s pay offer had matched the public sector average of 3.8%, a worker earning £29,179 would have received an additional £700 in annual pay.
Full JNCHES pay claim: https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/14980/Joint-HE-unions-heads-of-claim-202526/pdf/250225_JNCHES_2025-26_heads_of_claim.pdf
UNISON page: https://www.unison.org.uk/hepay2526/
RPI and CPI information: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices#timeseries
Average pay award for public sector workers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-evidence-to-the-pay-review-bodies-2026-27-pay-round/economic-evidence-to-the-pay-review-bodies-2026-27-p
What difference will the strike make?
By taking strike action now, we can show SOAS the value of our contributions and push for fair pay.
While our official mandate covers the national pay dispute, we know SOAS has the power to act now by increasing pay locally and directly supporting members affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Who is taking part in the strike?
The strike has been organised by UNISON and is part of a national effort undertaken by higher education workers to fight for better pay and conditions. SOAS is only one of the universities taking part. Other institutions include Manchester Metropolitan University, King’s College London, Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Bristol.
At SOAS, UNISON mainly represents workers in professional services which covers staff in the library, security, cleaners and estates.
How can I support striking workers?
The best way you can support the strikes is by joining UNISON. You can join by searching ‘Join UNISON’, calling 0800 0 857 857, or following this link https://start.unison.org.uk.
If you are a SOAS student or academic, you can show solidarity by not crossing the picket on strike days. This will strengthen our action and make the case for SOAS workers to be paid fairly.
Who do I contact if I want to take part?
Email the SOAS UNISON branch directly.