Three days of strikes hit University of Chester

Three consecutive days of strike action will hit 58 universities starting today (Wednesday) after university bosses and their representatives refused to address falling pay, worsening working conditions and withdraw pension cuts.

University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Chester will be on strike over pay and working conditions. Picket lines will be held outside main university entrances on each of the three strike days [NOTE 1].

On Wednesday 1 December, striking staff will take part in a rally starting at Chester Cross from 12pm. Speakers include UCU president elect Janet Farrar, as well as speakers from the North West Trades Unions Council, UNISON, Save Our NHS and UCU Chester.

Last month UCU members at 58 institutions across the UK backed strike action in two separate ballots, one over pension cuts and one over pay & working conditions [NOTE 2]. Research by the National Union of Students shows 73% of students support university staff taking strike action. 42 branches across the UK that just failed to meet the Conservative anti trade union threshold of 50% are being reballoted to join escalating action next year [NOTE 3].

Staff pay has fallen by 20% after twelve years of below inflation pay offers whilst almost 90,000 academic and academic-related staff are employed on insecure contracts.

The gender pay gap in UK universities sits at 15%, whilst the disability pay gap is 9% and the race pay gap is 17%, staff are also experiencing a crisis of work-related stress with over half showing probable signs of depression.

To resolve the pay & working conditions dispute UCU is demanding a £2.5k pay increase for all staff, as well as action to tackle unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and insecure contracts that blight the sector.

To resolve the pension dispute, which does not affect all UK institutions, UCU is demanding employers revoke their pension proposals which would see a typical lecturer face a cut of 35% to their guaranteed retirement income.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘It is deeply regrettable that staff have been forced into taking industrial action again, but sadly university bosses have shown little interest in negotiating in good faith and addressing the serious concerns of staff over falling pay, massive pension cuts, equality pay gaps and the rampant use of insecure contracts.

‘The truth is that staff are asking for the bare minimum in a sector awash with money. But sadly, the only time vice chancellors seem to listen is when staff take action, and those leading our universities should not underestimate their determination to change this sector for the better.

‘We are grateful to all the students who are supporting staff taking industrial action because they understand that staff working conditions are student learning conditions. Vice-chancellors now need to concentrate on asking themselves why strikes have become an annual occurrence and seek to resolve this dispute in order to avoid more needless disruption to learning. If they continue to ignore the modest demands of staff then we will be forced to take further industrial action in the new year, which even more branches will join.’