Chris’s ICR strike diary

Over 30 union members attended negotiations in person

Monday
The day starts at 8am setting up the picket line at the Chelsea site.
Banners and flags go across the front of the building so staff and the public can see the strike is ongoing.
We get plenty of support from passing bus drivers—fellow Unite union members—which keeps morale high.
At 11am we wrap up and head to Bloomsbury.
Chris Molloy, an ICR trustee and now CEO of the UK BioIndustry Association, is not pleased to see us inflate Scabby, the twenty-foot rat, outside the entrance while we hand out flyers explaining his role in the dispute.
After a quick lunch, we return to Chelsea for 3pm negotiations. Over 30 union members attend in person and more than 50 attend online.
Paul Norris, the ICR CFO, insists the pay offer cannot be improved, despite admitting it will cost £25 million over five years while £72 million sits unallocated.
There is clearly room for better.

Tuesday
Pickets lines again at 8am in both Chelsea and Sutton.
Without escalation actions, these days are ideal for talking to colleagues who haven’t yet joined the strike.
It’s important to show that joining now still matters—the longer the strike grows, the greater the pressure on management.
People are always keen to hear updates from negotiations and often shocked by how casually management treats them.

Wednesday
A group of us travel to Cambridge South Biomedical Campus to build solidarity.
We meet members of Unite South Cambridgeshire Engineering, the Cambridgeshire branch of the NEU union and some university students.
The NEU members are particularly interested, given their upcoming ballot.
Later, we protest outside the offices of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), who are the ICR’s largest funder.
Although they claim they can’t influence management, our presence makes clear that escalation will continue and won’t be confined to London.

Thursday
Picket lines begin again at 8am in 30+ degree heat. Today’s theme is “The house is on fire!”—a nod to both climate change and the pressure we’re building on management.
Themes help keep energy up and combat picket fatigue.
Afterwards, we protest at the William Harvey Research Foundation, where Dame Julia Buckingham also serves as a trustee.
Scabby is back, music is loud, and although police are called they take no action.
The message is clear—we will keep showing up. Later, an all-staff meeting is held to update colleagues.
Management and trustees are invited but do not attend, reinforcing the sense that they are avoiding accountability.

ICR strikers visiting a bus worker picket line (Photo: Dave Gilchrist)

Friday
No picket line for me today. Instead, we travel to Wood Green to support Unite bus drivers on their first day of strikes.
One driver shows me a thermometer reading 48 degrees inside his cab—a stark reminder of why safe temperature limits are urgently needed.
In the evening, we hold a fundraising event with live music and DJs.
Actor Jenny Agutter speaks in support and, for a few hours, we switch off, dance and recharge for the week ahead.

What you can do

• Use the collection sheet to do a collection at work, or at a union or campaign meeting.
• Circulate the crowdfunder: www.gofundme.com/f/cancer-researchers-get-a-fair-pay-deal/
• Organise a donation from your trade union branch. Reference: ICR-Strike Fund. Account name: Unite LE/524 Branch. Sort Code: 608301. Account number: 30010808
• Invite ICR strikers to your next meeting.
• Organise for strikers to come to your town or city in a delegation. Set up meetings for them in your workplace.