The recent industrial action at many UK universities has impacted on a number of students, although this has varied considerably across this University.
The University is committed to mitigating this impact (while fully recognising the right of staff to take industrial action), and to ensuring that all eligible students progress and graduate as planned.
From the beginning of this action, the University committed that it would not benefit from pay savings as a result of industrial action but rather that they will all be used for student benefit. The total amount will not be known precisely until all pay deductions have been made but savings over the 14 days of recent action are approximately £1.2 million.
There are a number of suggestions, many from students, about how these funds should be used fairly and appropriately. We are working closely together to determine how these funds can be best deployed and would welcome any further suggestions. We will let students know the outcome of these discussions in the near future.
Alex Tayler Nancy Rothwell
General Secretary President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Manchester Students’ Union The University of Manchester