Joint Union Statement on Management Actions on 20 June 2025 

On Friday 20 June 2025, when UCU Edinburgh members were on strike, additional work was imposed on UNISON members and others aimed at mitigating the effects of the strike action.  Principally, this involved Help Services colleagues being asked to staff Open Day Welcome desks; a consequent effect of which was that the Main Library staff involved could not cover online chat, which then had to be covered by staff at other sites or working from home.

In addition, some staff were instructed to do work that was not part of their job and/or with which they were not familiar.  The main and most concerning instance of this was that  Finance Helpline student staff were asked to lead tours of the Main Library.

As well as adding to the workload and stress levels of the individuals affected, this blatant attempt to undermine legitimate strike action casts serious doubt on the stated commitment of the Senior Leadership Team to work with the recognised unions to resolve the current crisis and to good industrial relations more generally.

Members of UNISON and UCU remain united in solidarity.  Our members will not be divided or deterred from defending jobs and conditions by pressure from management.

UNISON and UCUE, University of Edinburgh