Staff at more than 40 UK universities are striking this freshers’ week as a long-running dispute over pay drags on.
The academic year has begun – but lecture halls and labs at dozens of universities are part-empty. Some 20,000 staff at 42 universities will take part in industrial action between Monday (25 September) and Friday (29 September), as the University and College Union (UCU) demand above-inflation pay rises and an end to insecure contracts.
Strikes at a further 89 universities were called off after local UCU branches reached agreements with their employers. The union said the strikes “will now be targeted at the very worst employers”.
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“The strike action… stands as a reminder to all employers that if you behave egregiously, you will face further disruption,” said UCU general secretary Jo Grady.
Why are university staff striking?
UCU members at 42 universities will strike for five days – from today, Monday (25 September), to Friday (29 September) – while staff at a further 11 institutions will strike for one additional day. A full list of which universities are striking is available here.