Cambridge UCU members will strike for up to ten days across three weeks next month

Dates for industrial action over pay and pensions were confirmed today (27/01) by the University and College Union (UCU). The strikes will take place over three separate weeks, beginning at the start of February.

The first week of strikes will take place from Monday 14 to Friday 18 February, which is a USS pension dispute only, with forty-four institutions taking part across the UK. The second week of strikes will begin on Monday 21 and end on Tuesday 22 February, which is a dispute surrounding pay and working conditions, with 68 institutions involved. The third week of strikes will take place Monday 28 February, Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March.

This action follows three days of striking in December, during which one day of teaching at Cambridge was impacted.

Cambridge UCU tweeted: “The ‘best teaching model in the world’ doesn’t include paid professional developments for the supervisors who deliver it.”

More than 50,000 staff from universities across the UK are predicted to take part in this action, expecting to impact over one million students.

The general secretary of UCU, Jo Grady, emphasised the importance of these strikes: “This wave of strike action is a fight for the future of higher education and staff are proud to stand alongside students in the fight for an education system that treats students and staff with respect.”

Brady stressed “any disruption that occurs will be the clearest indication yet that university bosses don’t value their staff”.

Dates are still to be confirmed for action surrounding “Rolling regional and UK wide action in pay & working conditions” and preparations are made for a UK wide marking and assessment boycott.

This article was updated on 31/1.