UCU threatens strikes next month

UCU has threatened to take strike action in February unless its demands over pensions, pay, and working conditions are met

This wave of strikes would follow three days of UCU action in December.Varsity

by Eleanor Mann

This article is 4 years old

Wednesday January 26 2022, 8:48am

The University and College Union (UCU) has threatened to take strike action in February unless its demands over pensions, pay, and working conditions are met.

Following a meeting on Wednesday 19 January, sustained industrial action was authorised by the union’s higher education committee (HEC), although specific strike dates have not yet been confirmed.

The proposed action will follow three days of striking in December last year, during which one day of teaching at Cambridge was impacted.

The union, which represents over 130,000 staff nationwide, has been striking on these issues since February 2018.

UCU Cambridge votes to strike over ‘Four fights’

The HEC also agreed to begin preparations for a UK wide marking and assessment boycott.

The UCU tweeted: “UCU's higher education committee has decided on a programme of coordinated & rolling UK wide & regional strike action in disputes over pensions, pay & conditions to start in February.”

The UCU’s General Secretary, Jo Brady, stated: “Time is running out for university bosses to avoid more disruption this term. But if they refuse to withdraw their devastating pension cuts or take action over deteriorating pay and conditions, staff will be forced to take UK wide strike action alongside rolling regional walk outs at campuses across the country.”

Brady also warned of further marking boycotts if the demands were not met, saying “We hope vice chancellors finally see sense and address the long-standing concerns of staff. If they don’t, any disruption will be entirely their fault.”

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