University employers today (Wednesday) made offers in disputes
over pay, working conditions and pensions, the University and
College Union (UCU) confirmed.
The offers pave the way for the Universities Superannuation
Scheme (USS) pension to be restored by August 2024, to end the
use of involuntary zero-hour contracts in higher education, and
to agree new standards, frameworks and principles to tackle other
forms of casualised contracts, reduce workloads and close
equality pay gaps.
70,000 UCU members are on strike today, tomorrow, and Friday.
They are also set to strike Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next
week. Strikes will continue whilst members are asked whether they
wish to stand down action to formally consider the offer. The
union's Higher Education Committee meets Friday to decide next
steps.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Today, on our tenth day of
strike action and after weeks of intensive negotiations,
university employers have finally agreed to put forward a set of
proposals on pay, conditions and pensions. This breakthrough is
down to the strength, determination and sacrifice of university
workers who have stood on picket lines.
'The proposals will now move through our union's democratic
processes, and strike action will continue until our 70,000 UCU
members have had the chance to have their say.'
