For all Branch members who had pay deducted because of participating in the 2025 Marking & Assessment Boycott: strike funds are available to help those in immediate financial hardship, and anyone who took MAB action is eligible to apply to our local Brunel UCU hardship fund.

For Brunel local hardship support, please apply by 12:00 on Wednesday 20th August 2025 for your case to be considered by the branch Hardship Fund Panel.

Full details of how to apply are given in the documents here (Application Form / Terms of Reference / Guidance). Applicants should read through the guidelines very carefully. Major points to be aware of include:

· In this round, Brunel UCU will aim to match the strike payments from the national fighting fund as outlined on pages 1&2 here. Brunel UCU consider the MAB deductions as equivalent to 5 strike days (50% salary deduction for 10 days). Please note, members are encouraged to apply to the national fighting fund, in addition to our local fund:https://my.ucu.org.uk/app/answers/detail/a_id/554 . Applications for the national fund can be made here.

· If we have insufficient funds to pay all accepted claims in full, then the available local funds will be divided pro rata amongst successful claimants.

· Brunel UCU funding will prioritise low pay, insecure employment (especially members on Hourly Paid and Fixed Term contracts) and financial hardship. We encourage anyone in those categories who was affected by MAB deductions to apply.

· To be eligible for this round of local hardship funding, you must have taken official MAB action (e.g. logged on CHIME/payroll deduction) in 2025. Your application can also mention any ongoing hardship resulting from strike or MAB deductions earlier in spring-summer 2025, as context.

· We will be considering further local MAB hardship rounds if necessary depending on how deductions have been staggered by BUL payroll.

· If you have any questions about the BUCU application process, please contact: cmaxfield@ucu.org.uk

Thank you again to all members for your ongoing solidarity.

Brunel UCU