Thousands of lecturers and different staff has launched a campaign of strike action from Monday (26 September) in a dispute over pay.
Around 4,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) at 31 colleges in England will soak up to ten days of strike action over the coming weeks. The union stated the extent of industrial action being undertaken is “extraordinary” in England, however personnel had been left “and not using a different option” as university bosses “refuse to elevate pay”. Staff might be picketing outside colleges on every morning of the strikes.
Why are teachers and lecturers striking?
The union stated that for the reason that 2009 pay in similarly training has fallen in the back of inflation through 35% while the pay hole among school and university teachers stands at around £9,000. The strike comes after 89.9% of University and College Union (UCU) participants voted in favour of industrial motion. Staff had been initially offered which was rejected, followed through a revised offer of 2.5%. UCU general secretary Jo Grady stated: “Strike action on this scale in further education is unprecedented however our members had been left with no different option, they may be being driven into poverty through college bosses who refuse to elevate pay to assist them meet the cost-of-living crisis.
“College staff deliver wonderful training however during the last 12 years their pay has fallen behind inflation through 35% and now thousands are skipping meals, restricting energy use and thinking about leaving the sector altogether. “This strike motion will keep for 10 days until university bosses awaken to this crisis, stop dining off the goodwill in their team of workers and make a serious pay offer.”
Edward Pickering-Symes, a computer science lecturer, told the paper that some of instructors have left the university in latest years in favour of running in colleges or in industries imparting better pay and extra annual leave. He stated: “We have many experienced teachers and support staff who’re leaving in droves because, in real terms, we’re dealing with a 30% shortfall in pay, because of loss of pay rises and inflation. The college isn’t putting the retention of high-quality staff first, despite being financially sound, and this will inevitably have a knock-on effect on education standards.”
When are lecturers striking?
The moves will take region over 4 weeks in the first 1/2 of time period of the educational year.
Who else has been putting over pay?
The industrial dispute follows a summer of moves throughout different sectors, which includes rail, put up and telecoms. These walkouts are set to keep in the coming weeks. Royal Mail people plan to strike on 30 September and 2,000 London bus drivers will strike from four October four. Train drivers may also take industrial action.
