Staff from 150 British universities will go on strike on February 1, the University and College Union has announced.
It is the first of 18 days of strikes planned for February and March. The UCU said it will confirm the other 17 next week.
A salary offer of 4-5% made during talks with employers last week is insufficient, it said.
But the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association has said the offer is actually worth up to 7%.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said staff would be leaving “alongside other unions”.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers will also go on strike on this day.
- Why are university staff on strike?
In November, university staff went on strike for three days. Some academic staff and those in other professional roles, including administrators, librarians, and technicians, also left earlier in 2022 and in 2021.
This year’s 3% pay rise is well below the retail price index (RPI) inflation rate, which currently stands at 14%.
But the row also included calls to tackle the “excessive workload” that led to hours of “unpaid work”.
And many employees object to the use of short-term, uncertain contracts.
At universities existing before 1992, there is also a separate dispute over proposed changes to pension schemes.
National strikes by teachers in England and Wales are planned for February 1, March 15 and 16. There are also several regional dates.
Add Comment