UCU confirms strike dates

18 days have been confirmed across February and March, as the UCU says vice-chancellors ‘lack political will’ for resolution

The UCU took part in 3 days of action in November Rebecca Tyson

by Eric Williams

This article is 3 years old

Tuesday January 24 2023, 7:01pm

The UCU have confirmed strike dates between February and March, announcing further details on the 18 days of action earlier today.

Cambridge will once again join more than 70,000 staff at 150 universities across the UK striking over pay, conditions and pensions disputes.

The planned dates span across the whole of Lent term. Strike dates are:

Week 2– Wednesday 1st February [action which has already been announced.)
Week 4 – Thursday 9th and Friday 10th, Tuesday 14th, Wednesday 15th February.
Week 5- Thursday 16th, Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd February.
Week 6- Thursday 23rd, Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th February and Wednesday 1st March.
Week 7- Thursday 2nd March.
Week 8- Thursday 16th March.
Out of term- Friday 17th, Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd March.

Tomorrow (25/01), the UCU will meet the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). For disruption to be avoided, the UCU will demand a ‘substantial improvement’ on the previous 4-5% pay offer. With RPI at 14%, the UCU have criticized the offer as too small to address the cost of living crisis.

Cambridge academics set for 18 day strike action in major escalation

The UCU say vice-chancellors "lacked political will" to resolve the disputes. They say a "resolution can be reached" but it is up to vice-chancellors to "deliver a deal that benefits staff and students".

If the action goes ahead, it will be ‘unprecedented’ in the history of UK higher education. The escalation comes after Cambridge took part in a three day national strike in November, after the UCU became the first education union to secure a national strike mandate since the tightening of trade union laws in 2016.

Last night, the SU voted to support the strikes, with 58% in favour, 14% against, and 28% abstaining.

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