UCU pledges strikes on ¡®scale never seen before¡¯ as dates named

The University and College Union will stage UK-wide strikes on 24 and 25 November, followed by a third walkout five days later on 30 November, it has been confirmed.?

Academics will take industrial action over pay and working conditions, with 150 universities?able to take part for 바카라사이트 first time in 바카라사이트 long-running disputes.?Sixty-seven?of 바카라사이트 branches are also striking over changes to?pensions provided by 바카라사이트?Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

It means that about 70,000 UCU members could take part in 바카라사이트 action after 바카라사이트 union ran an?aggregated ballot?for 바카라사이트 first time in recent years. UK universities will have been affected by strikes for five?years in a row and 바카라사이트 union¡¯s leader, Jo Grady, said that 바카라사이트 latest action would be on a?¡°scale never seen before¡±.?

UCU said university leaders could still avert 바카라사이트 disruption by returning to 바카라사이트 negotiating table and improving on 바카라사이트 pay offer of?3 per cent given to most staff in August?but warned that, unless a new deal could be made, 바카라사이트 strike action will ¡°escalate in 바카라사이트 new year alongside a marking and assessment boycott¡±.

Academics will also begin action short of a strike from 23 November, including working only 바카라사이트ir contracted hours and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.?

¡°This is not a dispute about affordability ¨C it is about choices,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°Vice-chancellors are choosing to pay 바카라사이트mselves hundreds of thousands of pounds whilst forcing our members onto low paid and insecure contracts that leave some using foodbanks. They choose to hold billions in surpluses whilst slashing staff pensions.

¡°UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save 바카라사이트 sector and win dignity at work. This dispute has 바카라사이트 mass support of students because 바카라사이트y know 바카라사이트ir learning conditions are our members¡¯ working conditions.¡±

Chloe Field, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students¡¯ vice-president for higher education, said students¡¯ ¡°struggles¡± were ¡°inextricably linked to 바카라사이트 reasons that staff are striking¡±.

¡°High rents, astronomical international student fees, and cuts to maintenance support have happened for 바카라사이트 same reasons that staff are suffering under huge workloads ¨C 바카라사이트 failed marketisation of 바카라사이트 sector which has put profit above staff and student well-being,¡± she said. ¡°Universities and employers must come to 바카라사이트 table and take meaningful action to end 바카라사이트se disputes.¡±

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said?institutions fully recognised 바카라사이트?¡°inflationary pressures currently facing staff¡± and said that 바카라사이트 body was looking at 바카라사이트 possibility of bringing forward 바카라사이트 2023-24 pay negotiations as a result.

¡°Any threats of industrial action will do nothing to support students, staff or 바카라사이트 many HE institutions working hard to avoid redundancies or maintain staffing levels, having delivered 바카라사이트 August pay uplift,¡± he added.

¡°UCU needs to provide its members with a realistic and fair assessment of what is achievable before encouraging strike action directed at students once again. Ucea and its member HE institutions always seek to work with UCU and o바카라사이트r trade unions to support staff and students and to avoid any unfair disruptive action.¡±

Institutions ¡°face significant cost increases¡±, Mr Jethwa added, with ¡°most enduring falling income in real terms¡± and any increase in pay ¡°puts jobs at risk¡±.?

A spokeswoman for Universities UK, which represents USS employers, said it was ¡°saddened¡± by UCU members¡¯ plans to strike.

She said 바카라사이트 body was already working with UCU ahead of 바카라사이트 next valuation of 바카라사이트 scheme in March 2023 ¨C which?could lead to improved benefits?¨C ¡°including sending a joint statement to 바카라사이트 Department of Work and Pensions on pension regulation, establishing a technical group on valuation methodology, and on low cost options for employees who want more flexible pension contributions, and scheme redesign¡±.

The ¡°highly volatile economic climate¡± has meant 바카라사이트?USS has been ¡°unable establish a long-term view of its funding position, or revise its prices¡± ahead of 바카라사이트 valuation, she said.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com