Category: Higher Education strikes

Support staff to strike at 17 universities this week over pay

Support staff at 17 universities in England* are striking today and tomorrow in an ongoing dispute about pay, says UNISON today (Monday).

Cleaners, IT technicians, administrators and library staff will be among those walking out in coordinated action aimed at disrupting the start of the new academic year, says the union.

Staff rejected a below-inflation pay deal in February and voted to strike. They are yet to receive a better offer and say they have little alternative but to take industrial action.

More than 5,000 staff are expected to walk out over the two days, as the pay row escalates. There are also demonstrations and rallies taking place across the country.

UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “University staff are still waiting for a decent pay offer from universities and now have little option but to escalate their action.

“Support staff play a crucial role in helping students through university, but they’ve endured years of real-terms pay cuts. Bills and other costs continue to rise and some staff are leaving the sector for better-paid jobs elsewhere.

“Universities need to make staff a serious offer to resolve the dispute and avoid further disruption.”

Notes to editors:
– *The following universities will see strike action this week: Arts University Bournemouth; University of Bedfordshire; University of Brighton; City, University of London; University of Chichester; University of Gloucestershire; University of Leeds; Leeds Trinity University; University of Liverpool; Liverpool Hope University; Manchester Metropolitan University; Plymouth Marjon University; SOAS, University of London; Solent University; University of Sussex; University of the West of England and University of Winchester.
– The Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association made a pay offer for 2023/24 in January, with increases of 5-8% depending on individual workers’ salaries. This was then given to staff, with the first payments made from February. When put to UNISON members, 82% voted to reject this pay rise.

Media contact:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

 

The article Support staff to strike at 17 universities this week over pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Support staff to strike at 17 universities this week over pay

Support staff at 17 universities in England* are striking today and tomorrow in an ongoing dispute about pay, says UNISON today (Monday).

Cleaners, IT technicians, administrators and library staff will be among those walking out in coordinated action aimed at disrupting the start of the new academic year, says the union.

Staff rejected a below-inflation pay deal in February and voted to strike. They are yet to receive a better offer and say they have little alternative but to take industrial action.

More than 5,000 staff are expected to walk out over the two days, as the pay row escalates. There are also demonstrations and rallies taking place across the country.

UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “University staff are still waiting for a decent pay offer from universities and now have little option but to escalate their action.

“Support staff play a crucial role in helping students through university, but they’ve endured years of real-terms pay cuts. Bills and other costs continue to rise and some staff are leaving the sector for better-paid jobs elsewhere.

“Universities need to make staff a serious offer to resolve the dispute and avoid further disruption.”

Notes to editors:
– *The following universities will see strike action this week: Arts University Bournemouth; University of Bedfordshire; University of Brighton; City, University of London; University of Chichester; University of Gloucestershire; University of Leeds; Leeds Trinity University; University of Liverpool; Liverpool Hope University; Manchester Metropolitan University; Plymouth Marjon University; SOAS, University of London; Solent University; University of Sussex; University of the West of England and University of Winchester.
– The Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association made a pay offer for 2023/24 in January, with increases of 5-8% depending on individual workers’ salaries. This was then given to staff, with the first payments made from February. When put to UNISON members, 82% voted to reject this pay rise.

Media contact:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

 

The article Support staff to strike at 17 universities this week over pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.

HE strikes called off as talks move forward

As a result of progress in Acas (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) facilitated discussions, a joint statement has been agreed and released between the UCEA (University & Colleges Employers Association) and the higher education trade unions: EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite.

The statement highlights that progress has been made in discussions around pay, but that an impasse has been reached under Acas’ new dispute procedures.

However, the employer and the unions have agreed to proceed to time-limited talks to determine the further work necessary to resolve the dispute – this will include a review of the pay spine to address issues of grade increments.

UCEA has agreed to consult its members on the issues to be discussed in the time-limited talks, as well as agreeing to consult its members with a positive recommendation to take action on zero-hour contracts.

In recognition of the employer’s stance, UNISON, along with UCU and Unite have agreed to call off industrial action which was due to occur in the weeks commencing 20 and 27 February on the basis that no pay award will be imposed by higher education institutions during that period – EIS and GMB had no action planned before that time.

Work will now continue through Acas conciliation to agree the detailed terms of reference and timescales for these substantive negotiations.

Read the joint statement

The article HE strikes called off as talks move forward first appeared on the UNISON National site.