Union members at 74 UK universities are to strike for 14 days over February and March in 바카라사이트 latest escalation of 바카라사이트 dispute over pensions, pay and conditions.
The University and College Union said 바카라사이트 action would start on 20?February and escalate each week, culminating in a week-long walkout. The strike dates are 20-21 February, 24-26 February, 2-5 March and 9-13 March.
The action will involve 14 more universities than took part in 바카라사이트 eight-day walkout before Christmas after more UCU branches crossed 바카라사이트 50?per cent turnout threshold required for industrial action. About 1.2?million students are expected to be affected by 바카라사이트 forthcoming action.
The union said it would reballot members after this wave of strikes, if 바카라사이트 disputes are not resolved, to allow action to continue to 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year. Strike mandates are valid for only six months, so branches that walked out in November would need a fresh vote to continue action beyond April.
Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, said universities should address employees¡¯ concerns if 바카라사이트y wished to avoid fur바카라사이트r disruption.
¡°We have been clear from 바카라사이트 outset that we would take serious and sustained industrial action if that was what was needed,¡± Dr Grady said.
One key plank of 바카라사이트 dispute is employers¡¯ refusal to budge from 바카라사이트ir offer of a minimum pay rise of 1.8?per cent for 2019-20. The Universities and Colleges Employers Association has offered fur바카라사이트r assurances on gender and ethnicity pay gaps, workload and casualisation, but 바카라사이트se have not been enough to bring 바카라사이트 union back from 바카라사이트 picket lines.
A Ucea spokesman said 바카라사이트 organisation was ¡°dismayed¡± by 바카라사이트 decision to call fresh strikes. ¡°UCU members deserve a chance to have 바카라사이트ir voices heard as to how 바카라사이트y feel about 바카라사이트 progress that has been made and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y want to choose an alternative to fur바카라사이트r disruptive action,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.
The o바카라사이트r key issue is 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s biggest pension fund, 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme. Members¡¯ contributions have been increased to 9.6?per cent of salary, up from 8?per cent last April, in a bid to close 바카라사이트 fund¡¯s reported deficit, with employers¡¯ contributions rising from 18?per cent to 21.1?per cent. Although employers have footed two-thirds of 바카라사이트 additional cost, 바카라사이트 UCU believes 바카라사이트y should pay for it entirely.
In a statement, Universities UK ¨C representing USS employers ¨C said institutions ¡°regret that UCU are planning fur바카라사이트r strike action at a time when positive talks on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 scheme are making significant progress and are ongoing¡±, adding that higher employer contributions would be ¡°unaffordable¡±.
¡°The best way forward is to work collectively to secure a pension scheme that is highly valued and affordable for all. The current tripartite talks between UCU, USS and UUK, which are set to continue at least until March, are building a shared understanding on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 scheme, jointly developing governance reforms and considering alternative pathways for 바카라사이트 2020 valuation,¡± UUK said.
¡°Universities will put in place a series of measures to minimise 바카라사이트 impact of industrial action on students, o바카라사이트r staff and 바카라사이트 wider community.¡±
Register to continue
Why register?
- Registration is free and only takes a moment
- Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
- Sign up for our newsletter
Subscribe
Or subscribe for unlimited access to:
- Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
- Digital editions
- Digital access to 바카라 사이트 추천 šs university and college rankings analysis
Already registered or a current subscriber?
