Staff at 60 universities across the UK are set to walk out on strike later this month over pensions, pay and conditions, in a wave of action that could disrupt the studies of more than a million students, according to the University and College Union (UCU). The strikes will begin on 25 November and run until 4 December, followed by industrial action short of a strike, with staff working to contract.
The affected institutions include many of the UK's most prestigious universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, University College London, Manchester, Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff and Edinburgh. The UCU general secretary, Jo Grady, said the strikes were necessary unless employers begin serious talks on rising pension costs and declining pay and conditions.
The action comes less than two years after a previous wave of strikes over pension changes. This year, disputes also cover pay, equality, casualisation and workload. The union estimates that over half of academics are on temporary contracts, and pay has fallen by 17% in real terms since 2009.
In total, 140 universities were balloted over pay and conditions, and 69 over USS pension changes. Strike action was backed by 79% of voters in the pensions ballot and 74% in the pay ballot. The UCU warned that more than a million students could be affected and urged universities to respond positively to avert action.
Universities UK expressed hope for a resolution but said plans were in place to minimise disruption. The Universities and Colleges Employers Association described the action as damaging to students and unrealistic, urging the UCU to accept the concluded 2019-20 national pay round.
