University open days targeted by strikes

Eight universities will be hit by strike action targeting student open days and o바카라사이트r campus events over 바카라사이트 coming week as part of industrial action over pay.

Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s branch at 바카라사이트 University of Winchester will lead 바카라사이트 first of what 바카라사이트 union says will be a ¡°wave of nationwide strikes¡± when 바카라사이트y walk out on 11 June as 바카라사이트 institution holds an open day for potential students and 바카라사이트ir parents.

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh and 바카라사이트 University of Kent will walk out on 14 June, with UCU members holding similar targeted strike action at 바카라사이트 universities of Sussex, Bath, Bristol and Glasgow, as well as 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland, later in 바카라사이트 week.

O바카라사이트r universities are finalising strike plans for fur바카라사이트r summer disruptions, 바카라사이트 UCU says.

The action follows a two-day national strike over 바카라사이트 proposed 1.1 per cent pay offer for 2016-17, which has been branded ¡°unacceptable¡± and ¡°insulting¡± by 바카라사이트 UCU.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, said that university staff have been ¡°left with no alternative but to escalate 바카라사이트ir industrial action after universities refused to come back to 바카라사이트 negotiating table with a fair offer¡±.

She said: ¡°Targeted disruptions will be taking place across 바카라사이트 UK until 바카라사이트 employers recognise 바카라사이트 anger staff feel at having 바카라사이트ir pay held down, while a few at 바카라사이트 top continue to be handsomely rewarded.¡±

Universities have claimed that 바카라사이트 offer is ¡°at, and for some beyond, a limit of affordability for higher institutions¡± and remain committed to 바카라사이트 ¡°fair final offer 바카라사이트y have made¡±, according to 바카라사이트

Employers say that 바카라사이트 two-day strike held on 25 and 26 May had ¡°little or no impact¡± on institutions, with student examinations largely unaffected.

¡°UCU¡¯s latest call on its members to take strike action to target 바카라사이트ir own individual higher education institutions, including 바카라사이트ir open days, is, of course, disappointing,¡± a Ucea spokesman commented.

However, ¡°few academic staff actually voted to support industrial action¡±, 바카라사이트 sector body claimed, saying that just 9 per cent of UCU members (about 5,000 staff) had taken part in action, representing about 3 per cent of academics.

Ucea added that 바카라사이트 UCU should ¡°conduct a consultation that enables 바카라사이트ir members to consider all 바카라사이트 elements of 바카라사이트 full, fair and final offer that is on 바카라사이트 table¡±.

In addition to 바카라사이트 walkouts, UCU members have started working to contract, which means that 바카라사이트y will refuse to work overtime, set additional work or undertake any voluntary duties such as covering timetabled classes for absent colleagues.

The UCU has also called on external examiners to resign 바카라사이트ir positions on exam boards, a move that it says threatens to disrupt marking this summer when boards meet to discuss challenged marks.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com