Threat of ‘mass disruption’ for students as university lecturers may walk out in a row this autumn over pensions, pay and conditions
- Universities’ union holds vote in dispute over pensions, payment and conditions
- Jo Grady, secretary general of the union, said vice-chancellors had ‘pushed’ staff after strikes
- Already 15 strike days this year – and 40 branches are currently boycotting
- UK universities said ‘avoiding major cost increases for both employers and staff’
Universities across the UK could face ‘unprecedented’ strike action this autumn, which will cause hundreds of thousands of students disruption.
The University and College Union (UCU) has authorized a ballot paper from all higher education members in a long-running dispute over pensions and pay and conditions.
Strikes could follow across campuses in November, along with further ballots for industrial action in the spring of 2023.
UCU says the ballot will be merged, meaning that if it achieves an overall turnout of 50 per cent or more, and a majority yes vote, all universities across the UK will be hit by strike action.
‘Time is running out and we hope Vice-Chancellors finally make sense and address the long – standing concerns of staff. If they do not do so, mass disruption will be entirely their fault, ‘said UCU general secretary Jo Grady (photo)
Institutions have already experienced 15 days of strikes this year, and about 40 branches are currently participating in a marking boycott, with staff refusing to undertake marking and assessment duties.
Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: ‘By attacking pensions, reducing salaries and constantly refusing to negotiate in good faith, vice-chancellors have urged staff to take more strikes, and now university staff are going to the wave of joins industrial actions that wash the UK. .
‘Time is running out and we hope Vice-Chancellors finally make sense and address the long – standing concerns of staff. If they do not do so, mass disruption will be entirely their fault. ‘
A UK University spokesperson said pension reforms had already been implemented and were ‘avoiding major cost increases for both employers and staff’.