Grace Foster
University strikes are set to take place over the course of three days in late November in the UK.
It was announced on Tuesday that 150 universities will be taking part in industrial action, with 70,000 staff members expected to strike. University staff will be taking action over pay, pensions, and working conditions.
The current cost of living crisis is a particular concern for those striking – and one they want recognition of in their pay.
The industrial action is set to take place on 24th, 25th, and 30th November. The University and College Union (UCU) also announced that 23rd November would begin the action “short of a strike action”, with staff members refusing to make up for work lost due to the strike, or cover for absent colleagues.
We are going to deliver the biggest picket lines ever seen in higher education.
And we need every single one of you to play your part.
Add these dates to your diaries.#ucuRISING pic.twitter.com/0C4gXAgNeJ
— UCU (@ucu) November 8, 2022
Students Affected
The UCU said, “about 2.5 million students would be affected, but that disruption can be avoided if employers act fast and make improved offers.”
“Vice-chancellors were said to have earned an estimated £45 million collectively.”
The largest ever university strikes come after the UCU has been locked in disputes with employers over pensions, pay, and working conditions since 2018.
Jo Grady, general secretary of UCU, said: “employers are about to experience strike action on a scale never seen before. UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work.”
This comes among reports that the UK university sector generated a record £41.1 billion last year. Vice-chancellors were said to have earned an estimated £45 million collectively.
From this, the sector can more than afford to meet staff demands, according to the UCU.
A Time of Uncertainty
With students facing striking staff and uncertainty, Universities UK (UUK), which represents 140 institutions, said: “we appreciate this could be a difficult time for students, who may be anxious about possible disruption to their learning, universities are well-prepared for industrial action and will put in place a series of measures to protect students’ education, as well as other staff and the wider community.”
“it is the students who […] will bear the brunt.”
The university strikes come at a time of increased industrial action in the public sector. The Royal College of Nursing will likely join the striking university staff, with Royal Mail strikes also set to take place this month.
With the strikes set to take place in a matter of weeks, it is the students who, after years of disruption from Covid-19, will bear the brunt. Hopes are being held out that these matters can be resolved swiftly and ultimately generate change for those striking.
Image by Stinglehammer via Wikimedia Commons. Image licence found here. No changes have been made to this image.
