Strike ballots under way at 152 universities

The University and College Union (UCU) is balloting members for strike action at 152 universities over issues including cuts to pensions, declining pay, the use of insecure contracts in the sector, workloads and equality failings.

The union points out that pay for university staff fell by 17.6% relative to inflation between 2009 and 2019. The latest pay offer from the University and Colleges Employers Association was 1.5%.

Meanwhile, it says, the gender pay gap stands at 16%, and the most recent Higher Education Statistics Agency figures reveal that, of 22,810 professors in the UK, under a third (27%) were women and only 155 (1%) were Black. The pay gap between Black and White staff stands at 17% and the disability pay gap is 9%.

The UCU’s demands are for a £2,000 pay increase; an end to race, gender and disability pay injustice; a framework to eliminate zero-hours and other precarious contracts; and action on workloads.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady, said: "Industrial action can easily be avoided if employers withdraw their disgraceful pension cuts and make credible offers on pay and working conditions. [They] have three weeks to sort this out.”

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11820/Strike-ballots-open-at-UK-universities?list=1676