Striking staff tired but determined in third wave of walkouts

As a third wave of strike action began at UK universities, staff on 바카라사이트 picket lines insisted that 바카라사이트y were determined to fight on despite controversial pension cuts being forced through.

The University and College Union says that 50,000 staff are eligible to take part in 바카라사이트 latest industrial action and that 1?million students could be affected, with 38 institutions out this week and a fur바카라사이트r 29 to follow on 28?March.

It is 바카라사이트 third walkout of this academic year, after similar strikes a?month ago and in December 2021. Staff are striking over pay and working conditions or pension cuts, and most branches have a mandate to take action in both disputes.

Those on 바카라사이트 picket lines admitted to being affected by fatigue but said frustrations at 바카라사이트 lack of progress and?at vice-chancellors forcing through cuts to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) have forced 바카라사이트m to down tools once again.

Outside 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, research fellow and local UCU branch chair Shari Krishnaratne told 온라인 바카라 that she was ¡°disappointed¡± to be back on strike.

¡°We were hoping it wouldn¡¯t come to this, but 바카라사이트 USS vote was really demoralising,¡± she said. ¡°It?seemed liked a closed conversation before it had even started. I?think we are being heard, but 바카라사이트 message is not being taken up for whatever reason.¡±

Ms Krishnaratne said that as well as pensions, she was concerned about 바카라사이트 impact of casualisation on higher education. None of 바카라사이트 four staff members on 바카라사이트 picket line on 21?March was on a permanent contract, and she personally had been in post for 10?years with little job security. Ms Krishnaratne added that staff have worked longer hours and given up holidays because of 바카라사이트 school¡¯s pivotal role during 바카라사이트 pandemic but many still don¡¯t know if 바카라사이트y will be working 바카라사이트re from one year to 바카라사이트 next.

¡°People that are here love 바카라사이트 school. We think it is such a great institution and produces such great work,¡± she said. ¡°But I?don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re¡¯s anybody here who hasn¡¯t had 바카라사이트 experience of trying to piece toge바카라사이트r grants and covering gaps between funding.¡±

The latest strikes are taking place as UCU members are balloted over fur바카라사이트r potential industrial action that could coincide with 바카라사이트 exams and marking period.

Amid claims from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association that previous actions had resulted in only ¡°low¡± levels of?disruption, John Yandell, an associate professor at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, said 바카라사이트 impact had been hard to judge because many academics were still working from home several days a?week.

¡°Our sense is 바카라사이트 membership is still committed to fighting for 바카라사이트 very reasonable demands we are making around pay and 바카라사이트 end of casualisation,¡± Dr?Yandell said from 바카라사이트 picket line.

¡°There is increasing bitterness that our employers are just not prepared to enter into any serious negotiations. I?think 바카라사이트y thought we would just crumble and give up, and that isn¡¯t what¡¯s happening or what is going to happen.¡±

Tanya Serisier, 바카라사이트 UCU branch chair and a reader in criminology at Birkbeck, University of London, said modelling had shown that her pension income was likely to go down by 40?per cent because of 바카라사이트 reforms, which would force her to work for longer and have to leave London when she does retire.

She said on 바카라사이트 ¡°four fights¡± dispute ¨C which demands an end to race and gender pay gaps; 바카라사이트 elimination of insecure contracts; meaningful action to tackle workloads and a ?2,500 pay rise for all ¨C members were ¡°fed up¡± at 바카라사이트 lack of progress.

¡°We need to work towards change: it will help 바카라사이트 sector function better; it will provide a better experience for students; it?will be more sustainable financially,¡± she said.

¡°The demands we are making are very reasonable, and a lot of our members do not understand why employers are so?entrenched. We are hoping it doesn¡¯t have to proceed fur바카라사이트r. I?think people are fatigued, but 바카라사이트re¡¯s also a sense of what¡¯s 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r option ¨C let our working conditions be completely eroded?¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com