Unite, which represents workers in higher education, are balloting
members at several universities for strike action in a dispute over
a real terms pay cut. Unite is currently balloting its
members at Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and Sussex universities, with
other institutions also possibly being added to the action.
The ballots will be completed by mid-November, with strike
action pencilled in for late November. The University and Colleges
Union (UCU) and public services...Request free trial
Unite, which represents workers in higher education, are balloting
members at several universities for strike action in a dispute over
a real terms pay cut.
Unite is currently balloting its members at Bristol,
Glasgow, Leeds and Sussex universities, with other institutions
also possibly being added to the action.
The ballots will be completed by mid-November, with
strike action pencilled in for late November. The University and
Colleges Union (UCU) and public services union Unison are also
balloting their members at these universities.
A two per cent pay increase for university staff, which
is well below the current retail price index (RPI) inflation rate
of 3.3 per cent, was imposed on workers in
August.
There is growing anger amongst university staff about
pay. University staff have experienced year on year real terms pay
cuts which have seen their pay cut in real terms by 21 per cent
since 2009.
Unite believes that a pay increase at least in line
with inflation is eminently affordable as universities have seen a
33 per cent increase in income in the last five years. While
operating surpluses have increased by 177 per cent and reserves are
up by 259 per cent.
Unite members working in universities tend to undertake
roles including lab technicians, office and admin staff, security
staff, estates staff and cleaners. Most Unite workers earn between
£20,000-£30,000 a year and they form part of the squeezed middle of
the pay spine.
If strike action occurs then the targeted universities
will almost certainly be forced to close, disrupting lectures and
teaching.
Unite national officer for education Siobhan Endean
said: “University staff have had enough. They are being
forced to take on extra work, work harder for less pay and are
struggling to make ends meet.
“Universities can afford to give workers a
decent pay rise which would begin to tackle the pay cuts that
workers have suffered over the past decade but have chosen not to
do so.
“University management have invested
heavily in new facilities and should also invest in the people
responsible for keeping the lights on and the institutions
functioning.
“While Unite recognises that strike action
will cause widespread disruption at the targeted universities, this
dispute can be resolved by the University Employers (UCEA)
returning to the negotiating table with an offer of a pay increase
rather than a pay cut.”
