Rally and strikes at Liverpool University over hybrid working diktat
- Wednesday 18 June 2025
Hundreds of Unite members who are long-standing employees at the University of Liverpool will go on strike this week over proposed changes to their hybrid working patterns.
It comes as Liverpool University management decided to impose an extra day to the hybrid working option currently set at 40 per cent on-campus working, expecting staff to come in for 60 per cent of their working week without any negotiations with unions.
Workers will be taking industrial action on both Friday (June 20) and Saturday (June 21). These are key open days for the university and events where staff play a key role.
There will be a rally at Liverpool University, Harold Cohen library building L3 5TX at 13:00 on Friday, which press are welcome to attend.
While the diktat has not yet been fully implemented, some managers have been accused of using 'under the radar' tactics to compel workers into attending campus for more than is currently agreed, such as by scheduling in-person meetings.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Management at Liverpool University have tried to ride roughshod over its staff’s work, well-being and personal lives. Rather than issuing diktats it should treating workers fairly and decently.
"Unite is totally committed to protecting the jobs, pay and conditions of members and Liverpool University workers will receive the total support of their union."
During the dispute, Unite has been highlighting concerns about the negative impact the change will have on employees' work-life balance, personal wellbeing, family friendly working and the principle of flexibility that hybrid working arrangements was intended to support.
Unite also previously raised health and safety concerns as following Covid many office spaces had been repurposed into meeting rooms and storage areas, meaning workers will have to ‘hot desk' (if space is available) in potentially unsuitable locations.
Staff have been told by management that they can host team meetings in venues such as pubs and cafes, something they believe to be unprofessional and proof that there will not be enough space for everybody to work on campus.
Unite has also criticised the attitude of the senior leadership team, especially Vice Chancellor Tim Jones - towards the union and its members. Liverpool University management had suggested involvement from the conciliation service Acas, but only on the condition that strike action was cancelled.
Unite regional officer Sam Marshall said: “Strike action will cause huge disruption across the university campus but this is entirely the fault of university management which has refused to listen to its workers and openly negotiate.
"The University of Liverpool leadership can stop the planned industrial action by being willing to negotiate in good faith”.
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One staff member said: “It takes me 15 minutes on the train but 45 minutes walking to get to campus. Now I’m hybrid working, I have to carry a backpack with all my work gear which can weigh up to 10kg due to laptop, headphones (as we have no telephones now we’re using a soft phone), lunch and anything else required for a day away from home. By the time I’ve finished two days on campus I am so tired physically and mentally that I’m good for nothing the following day. I also suffer with lumbar facet joint pain at the bottom of my spine.
“Also, my husband suffers from terrible anxiety. He doesn’t work and doesn’t claim any benefits, so my wage is our only source of income. Travel costs have increased and if I buy a return train ticket in the morning and have to find other modes of transport home as they’re not running, which happens frequently, the costs only go up.
“The current hot desking situation isn’t ideal. There are more of us crammed into the office than before and noise levels are ridiculous on occasion. We can’t always sit together in our teams and most of the time we’re sat there wearing headphones and not communicating with anyone. I feel we’re closer on ‘Teams’ than all together in the office. When working at home, productivity definitely goes up. There are fewer distractions and it’s much quieter.
“My team are not student facing. If we have to be on campus for any legitimate reason, such as inducting new members of staff, meetings that are better face to face, Open Day etc. we understand being on campus is required and are willing to be there. I can see the value of coming onto campus maybe twice a month to actually see your team face to face, but if you’re not student facing, there’s no point doing more.”
For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite press officer Natasha Wynarczyk on 07970081524