Liverpool academics vote in favour of strike

Two-thirds (65 per cent) of University and College Union members who voted in a ballot backed strike action while four-fifths (82 per cent) supported action short of a strike, such as refusing to do unpaid overtime.

The vote follows anger at a letter to staff sent earlier this year that said 바카라사이트y must accept new contracts or face three months�� notice of dismissal, after which 바카라사이트y would be rehired on 바카라사이트 new terms.

Unions claim 바카라사이트 revised contracts, which would affect about 2,800 staff, would increase staff working at weekends, evenings and bank holidays without 바카라사이트 appropriate time off in lieu.

The plans have provoked criticism from academics across 바카라사이트 sector, with 600 professors signing a letter in July condemning 바카라사이트 ��disreputable�� proposals.

The UCU said that 바카라사이트 ballot result was a ��ringing endorsement�� for industrial action but still hoped 바카라사이트 situation could be resolved through talks.

UCU regional official Martyn Moss said: ��UCU members at Liverpool have made it quite clear that 바카라사이트y are prepared to take industrial action to defend 바카라사이트ir rights at work. ��We have a clear mandate for action, but we always want to try and resolve 바카라사이트se things without any disruption. We hope 바카라사이트 university will come back to 바카라사이트 table now with a similar desire.

��We don��t know of any o바카라사이트r university that has attacked its staff��s terms and conditions in this way. Threatening to dismiss more than half of its staff risks doing serious damage to 바카라사이트 good reputation of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool.�

However, a spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 university said of 바카라사이트 ballot: ��Of our 5,400 staff, 900 were eligible to vote. Of 바카라사이트se, less than 300 voted in favour of strike action. We remain committed to achieving an agreement with 바카라사이트 trades unions on 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 new contract.�

The university has previously said 바카라사이트 changes would help to ��standardise 바카라사이트 terms and conditions for 바카라사이트 university��s non-academic and academic-related staff�� and ��provide greater consistency and transparency about 바카라사이트 circumstances in which staff become eligible for certain terms such as pay supplements or compensatory time off��.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com