University staff will go on strike for three days next month due to disputes over pensions, wages and working conditions.
The members of the Union of Universities and Colleges (UCU) will withdraw from December 1st to 3rd after voting for industrial action.
Before the Christmas holiday, the strike will hit 58 universities across the UK.
UCU Secretary-General Jo Grady warned that if the dispute with the employer remains unresolved, more industrial action may be taken in the spring.
Earlier this month, UCU members supported strike actions in two different disputes, one on pensions and the other on wages and working conditions.
If employers still intend to cut pensions and exploit employees who kept the sector running during the pandemic, then campuses will face strike action before Christmas, which will escalate to spring with re-voting and further industrial actions
Overall, 76% of UCU members voted for strike action to change pensions.
In a vote on pay and conditions, 70% of the members supported the strike action.
Except for the three strike days, union members will begin other forms of industrial action on December 1.
This will include strict compliance with the contract and rejection of any additional duties.
UCU stated that this will be done indefinitely within five months of the employee’s right to take industrial action.
Dr. Grady said: “Next month there will be a three-day strike on university campuses unless employers sit down and take employees’ concerns about pension cuts, wages and working conditions seriously.
“UCU has repeatedly asked employers to meet with us to try to resolve these disputes. However, although we have proposed a pragmatic solution that can prevent the widespread disruption of British campuses, the university boss refused to cancel unnecessary and substantial pension cuts, or even refused. Negotiating issues such as temporary workers and unbearably high workloads
“Resolving this dispute is simple. However, if employers still intend to cut pensions and exploit employees who keep the industry running during the pandemic, then campuses will face strike action before Christmas, which will follow the re-voting and further steps. Industrial action escalated to spring.”
UCU claims that cuts to the University Pension Plan (USS) pension plan will reduce the guaranteed retirement income of typical members by 35%.
It also shows that relative to the inflation from 2009 to 2019, the salary of university faculty and staff has dropped by 17.6%. Since then, employers have offered lower-inflation quotations, and the latest offer is 1.5%.
UCU held a series of strikes on pensions, pay and conditions in 2019 and early 2020, which affected universities across the UK. Due to pension issues, strikes also took place in 2018.
Larissa Kennedy, President National Student Union (NUS) said: “As the average total salary of the vice-principal rises to £269,000 per year, it is clear that employers are capable of resolving their disputes with UCU over employee compensation. Since then, employee compensation has actually fallen by an average of 20%. 2009 year.
“The teaching conditions of the faculty and staff are the learning conditions of the students. We must not forget that many graduate students who have signed temporary teaching contracts will be amazing.
“The responsibility for minimizing the disruption to students lies with the university boss: they must return to the negotiating table and resolve the clear problems of how higher education currently operates.”
UCU members took action on compensation and pensions in 33 institutions. these are:
London School of Economics
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
University of Birmingham
University of Nottingham
University of Sheffield
University of Stirling
University of Bradford
University of Bristol
Cambridge University
University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
Lancaster University
University of Liverpool
University of St Andrews
Queen’s University of Belfast
21 people will be affected by workers’ actions on pay. these are:
Courtaud College of Art
Edinburgh Napier University
Liverpool Hope University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Queen Margaret University
Royal Northern Conservatory of Music
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Manchester
University of Northampton
University of Salford
University of the Arts London
University College London
University of Brighton
University of Central Lancashire
University of Chester
University of Leicester
Four will only be affected by the pension strike. these are:
Development Institute
University of Reading
