Unite members at the University of Liverpool have voted to halt planned strike action tomorrow (14 August) and in September after accepting new terms to protect home working.

Over 300 workers - professional services staff - took action including striking and holding a rally in June followed by working to contractual hours only (no overtime, no evenings, no weekends) after senior management tried to force through changes to their hybrid working practices without proper consultation with staff or Unite.

Management wanted staff to be on campus for 60 per cent of working time, despite this having negative impacts on employees' work-life balance, personal wellbeing, family friendly working and the principle of flexibility that hybrid working arrangements were initially intended to support. Meanwhile, office space had been repurposed meaning some staff were working in areas that were not actually fit for purpose.

However, Unite and sister union UCU have now negotiated new terms with the University of Liverpool. Crucially, employees who work in a hybrid way will not be forced to work more than 40 per cent of their time on campus unless they chose to - the minimum expected after the pandemic.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “We backed staff at the University of Liverpool in their fight to protect their conditions and this win is a clear example showing that industrial action works. Unite will always battle to deliver for our members."

The university and unions will now finalise the policy which will be in place for January 2026.

Unite regional officer Sam Marshall said: "This victory could not have been secured without the hard work and solidarity of our members. Those looking to protect their workplace conditions should join Unite and get their colleagues to join too.

"The levels of membership engagement during this dispute have been phenomenal and we will build on this to ensure Liverpool University delivers a hybrid working policy on the principles agreed."

ENDS