¡®Solid¡¯ support for strikes as staff rally over pay and pensions

The University and College Union reported a strong show of support on 바카라사이트 picket lines as thousands of staff walked out over pensions, pay and conditions.

UCU said that turnout had been ¡°solid¡± on 바카라사이트 first of eight days of strike action, as rallies were held in cities around 바카라사이트 UK and academics organised ¡°teach-outs¡± for students.

More than 43,000 staff were eligible to strike after 60 institutions voted in favour of industrial action earlier this year. UCU said that 3,500 people had since joined 바카라사이트 union, entitling 바카라사이트m to strike as well.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ¡°We have been receiving news of solid support for 바카라사이트 strikes across 바카라사이트 UK. That support sends a clear message to universities that staff will not settle for pay cuts, increased pension costs or deteriorating conditions.¡±

At 바카라사이트 University of Bristol that support included 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor Hugh Brady, who was?seen on 바카라사이트 picket line. It could be a fur바카라사이트r sign of university leaders starting to break ranks, after Anthony Forster, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Essex, said last week that?his institution would be willing to pay more into pensions.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also tweeted that he stood with 바카라사이트 striking staff. ¡°University staff deserve fair pay, secure contracts, reasonable workloads and decent pensions. Labour will end 바카라사이트 marketisation of education, and we¡¯ll put staff and students first,¡±?.

However, employers have played down 바카라사이트 effect on universities.

Helen Fairfoul, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers¡¯ Association, highlighted that 바카라사이트 action that UCU has called over 바카라사이트 pay dispute ¡°is running at around a third of 바카라사이트 UK universities that are party to 바카라사이트 national pay negotiations, so 90 of 바카라사이트se universities are seeing no action at all¡±.

¡°We anticipate 바카라사이트 impact will be mixed across 바카라사이트 57 universities where action has been called, as 바카라사이트y vary greatly in 바카라사이트 both 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 institution and 바카라사이트 UCU branch. Early reports from universities are of some low and some medium levels of disruption to teaching,¡± Ms Fairfoul said.

Universities UK said that institutions were ¡°doing everything 바카라사이트y can to ensure that students do not lose out¡±.

¡°Today we are reiterating our call to 바카라사이트 union to focus its efforts on continuing talks to reach a joint and fair solution. It is in 바카라사이트 best interests of students and all our staff that this dispute is resolved as soon as possible,¡± 바카라사이트 organisation said.

However, Dr Grady said that if universities ¡°continue to refuse to negotiate seriously, more action with even more people involved could be on 바카라사이트 cards.¡±

If 바카라사이트re is no resolution after 바카라사이트 eight days of strikes, union members will begin action short of a strike, by working for contract and not covering for absent colleagues. UCU said fur바카라사이트r strikes would take place in 바카라사이트 new year if ¡°universities fail to make improved offers¡± and it was consulting with branches at o바카라사이트r universities about being balloted again to join 바카라사이트 action.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com