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[science_expat]

So, any UCU people out there who are going to be working to contract?

I have to admit to being confused as to how this will work, for instance I have no set hours and my duties are "as assigned by the head of department".

[qrypt]

I figure this is nothing more than a tactic that plays a merely symbolic role in a larger strategy: they can say that they are embracing a moderate strategy, escalating only as necessary. 

Apart from that -- while yes one's duties are "as assigned...", there is a nominal weekly total of working hours (37.5), which is consistent with "no set hours" insofar as one is free to perform those hours on a schedule of one's own choosing.  So I suppose the idea is to stop working once the 37.5 hours are up. 

Needless to say, I will be ignoring all of this completely. 

[science_expat]

I'm not in the union but would be ignoring it if I were.

The "stop when you hit 37.5 hours" idea raises some interesting prioritization issues - for instance if a member of staff opts for research over marking...

[scotia]

If working to contract meant that I could concentrate on teaching (including grading) and research, and not have to fill in all those pointless forms and do HR's job for them I might just be up for it. For the last few weeks, had I worked a 37.5 hour week I would have stopped working no later than midday on Thursday.

[science_expat]

Here's an idea.

Let's each keep track of our working hours this week - starting tomorrow morning - and post when we hit 37.5 hours.

(Of course, if we had started yesterday I'd already be about 6 hours in, with another 4-5 on schedule for today....)

[theblondeassassin]

If working to contract meant that I could concentrate on teaching (including grading) and research, and not have to fill in all those pointless forms and do HR's job for them I might just be up for it. For the last few weeks, had I worked a 37.5 hour week I would have stopped working no later than midday on Thursday.

I hear you, sister. There are many weeks I could have stopped on Tuesday by that criterion. Not counting Sunday, either.

However, although I am a UCU member, and have served the AUT and UCU in a number of capacities, I do not think that professionals should strike or withhold work, not least because they are completely ineffective, so that I will not be following "work to rule".

[scotia]

Here's an idea.

Let's each keep track of our working hours this week - starting tomorrow morning - and post when we hit 37.5 hours.

(Of course, if we had started yesterday I'd already be about 6 hours in, with another 4-5 on schedule for today....)

This weekend I had promised myself I would not work (the freshers flu I have been fighting has taken its toll - I am not a lie-in-bed person, but that is what I am doing at the moment). Of course, I will still be reading those Masters dissertations that need to be read in my role as external examiner (arrived Thursday, exam board next Wednesday, comments needed by Monday), and I have a few more papers to read for PhD student meetings etc. next week, but none of this will require me to go to my office.

[expatinuk]

I aspire to work to contract.

[drspouse]

I don't work weekends, unless there is something urgent, or a conference/meeting; if I'm working in the evenings it's normally marking (I can't really concentrate on anything more challenging). So I may put marking to the bottom of the pile if my week is full, and tell the department and the students why that is.

Almost all of the other aspects of the "work to rule" either don't apply to me at all, or we've been told they don't apply because of our established practice (we already cover for absent colleagues, for example, so we've been covering for the colleague who's gone off on emergency leave).  One thing I have asked about is travel to work meetings/conferences, and UCU have said this should be included in your normal work hours.

So I may officially notify people that I'm taking a half day's leave (and hence am unavailable to students etc.) if I spend half a day travelling to and from a meeting. That makes the work to rule more public if you see what I mean. I suppose if you work a Saturday you could do the same, and not be visibly working/present.