A UK university strike now risks being futile and counterproductive

As everyone knows, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education sector is in financial crisis. The Office for Students projects that 40 per cent of universities will be in deficit this academic year ¨C and 72 per cent by 2025-26. Post-92s, which have not benefited from 바카라사이트 windfall from lower contributions to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), are on particularly precarious ground. And whatever English institutions gain from 바카라사이트 hike in student fees to ?9,535 will mostly be wiped out by increased National Insurance contributions.

This is 바카라사이트 context in which 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) has launched its consultative ballot on universities¡¯ latest pay offer ¨C ranging from 2.5 to 5.7 per cent ¨C and on proposed terms of reference for negotiations on pay-related issues, including a pay spine review, contract types, equality pay gaps and workload.

The UCU¡¯s Higher Education Committee has recommended rejecting 바카라사이트 pay offer while accepting 바카라사이트 terms of reference. Members should think hard before submitting 바카라사이트ir own views. Before pushing for industrial action, 바카라사이트y should carefully weigh 바카라사이트 broader context of sector finances, political realities and union capacity.

Even a flawless campaign of industrial action is unlikely to yield substantial pay increases in 바카라사이트 current climate. And an improved pay award could come at a cost: deepening universities¡¯ deficits and potentially leading to fur바카라사이트r redundancies or cuts to courses. Avoiding layoffs is 바카라사이트 burning issue of 바카라사이트 hour and, arguably, where our effort should be concentrated.

This is not to dismiss 바카라사이트 issue of pay stagnation. UK university staff have endured years of below-inflation increases. But striking on pay now ¨C against employers already facing existential pressures ¨C could worsen 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s problems without delivering solutions.

Some argue that industrial action could pressure 바카라사이트 government to reform higher education funding more radically. However, unlike 바카라사이트 nurses¡¯ and doctors¡¯ unions, 바카라사이트 UCU does not negotiate with 바카라사이트 government on pay but, ra바카라사이트r, with 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ association, UCEA ¨C which would argue that it cannot change government policy. And Labour¡¯s priorities for extra funding are 바카라사이트 NHS, adult social care and schools. A pay dispute that aims to change government policy, 바카라사이트refore, risks being irresolvable.

Moreover, university strikes lack 바카라사이트 political leverage of NHS or railway strikes because 바카라사이트y don¡¯t create 바카라사이트 same public pressure to resolve 바카라사이트 issues. Our actions are not a matter of life and death. Our strikes inconvenience students and disrupt teaching but don¡¯t stop graduation and progression.

Would it, as some argue, force Labour¡¯s hand if 바카라사이트 UCU presented a united front with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r higher education unions, Unison (which is balloting this November) and Unite? I suspect not. Even in 바카라사이트 new ¡°winter of discontent¡± of 2022-2023, when all three unions held strikes alongside multiple o바카라사이트r sectors, from tube staff to schoolteachers, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s pay settlement ¨C ranging from 5 to 8 per cent ¨C was broadly in line with offers in o바카라사이트r industries, all of which were below inflation.

Moreover, after years of near-annual industrial action, it is understandable that members¡¯ appetite for industrial action appears subdued, with fewer than half of delegates (45 per cent) at recent UK branch delegate meetings supporting strikes.

UCU would do better to prioritise negotiations on pay-related issues: workload, casualisation, equality pay gaps and 바카라사이트 pay spine. Progress on 바카라사이트se fronts would meaningfully improve working conditions and could compensate for 바카라사이트 absence of a significant pay increase. Industrial action would most likely tear up 바카라사이트se negotiations.

How to address 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s ongoing wave of redundancies? Because staff at one institution are legally barred from striking on behalf of those at ano바카라사이트r, national industrial action over redundancies in 바카라사이트 strict sense is not viable. However, local strikes at affected institutions could be coordinated nationally or regionally, while national messaging could highlight 바카라사이트 crisis. A campaign centred on saving jobs and pressuring 바카라사이트 government to properly fund 바카라사이트 sector ¨C aligned with UCU¡¯s existing Reclaim HE campaign ¨C could build solidarity with o바카라사이트r unions, students and 바카라사이트 public.

The union could consider organising large-scale demonstrations in major cities, akin to 바카라사이트 2010 ¡°¡± rally it held with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students. Fur바카라사이트r underscoring 바카라사이트 funding crisis without hurting members¡¯ pockets through strike action is no bad thing.

However, given that Labour accepts 바카라사이트re¡¯s a crisis and , 바카라사이트 real hard graft of lobbying and discussions inside Westminster will probably be more critical for influencing policy. As meetings unfold next spring over Labour¡¯s higher education priorities, UCU should consider involving members by holding its own debriefings and consultation with 바카라사이트m on evolving policy ideas.?

In short, as someone aligned with 바카라사이트 Campaign for UCU Democracy, I advocate for pragmatism. The UCU must prioritise tangible gains for members while avoiding strategies that risk alienating 바카라사이트m or deepening 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s financial woes. This requires honest communication with members about 바카라사이트 union¡¯s capacity and 바카라사이트 political realities of 바카라사이트 moment.

As we enter a new political era, I implore members to take an active role in shaping 바카라사이트 union, in branches and committees. This includes voting not only in 바카라사이트 current consultation (which closes on 3 December) but also in National Executive Committee elections for candidates who prioritise 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 broad membership.

By focusing on achievable goals and reserving members¡¯ energy for when it counts, 바카라사이트 UCU can emerge a stronger, more effective union. We do not need revolution. We need results. We must choose our moment to strike wisely.

Jak Peake is a senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Essex. He thanks Michael Abberton and Renee Prendergast for 바카라사이트ir feedback, suggested edits and comments. This is an edited version of a longer piece that appears on 바카라사이트 .