Support staff at five Scottish universities are set to strike in a dispute over pay, Unite the union has announced. Members including technicians, cleaners and janitors will walk out at the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, Edinburgh Napier, Dundee and Abertay.
Unite said it had received industrial action mandates from around 1,000 members in Scotland, with strike dates expected to be released next week. The action follows the failure of universities to reach agreement on a pay rise for 2023/24.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The UCEA has not only failed to put a fair wage offer on the table, it is attempting to impose a real terms pay cut on all university workers which is totally unacceptable. Unite will fully support our university members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."
The union says the majority of members had a 5-6% pay offer "imposed on them" after a 3% uplift in 2022. The dispute is part of a wider UK higher education row over pay and conditions.
UCEA said that Unite balloted members at 10 universities in Scotland and only five attained a 50% turnout with a yes vote. Chief executive Raj Jethwa said: "UCEA continues to meet with Unite, UCU and the other sector trade unions to seek urgent resolution. UCEA has suggested a joint approach to Acas for facilitation of these talks and is awaiting the trade unions' response to this proposal."
