The UCU has announced 18 days of strike action across seven weeks in February and March, as pay and pensions continue to divide.
The University and Colleges Employers’ Association produced a pay rise offer of 4-5 per cent – higher for some lower salaried roles – earlier in the month, which was rejected by unions on the basis it was below inflation and not a meaningful rise to deal with the cost of living crisis.
The strike timetable covers the following dates:
- Wednesday 1 February.
- Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February.
- Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 February.
- Tuesday 21 – Thursday 23 February.
- Monday 27 – Thursday 2 March.
- Thursday 16 and Friday 17 March.
- Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 March.
During this period of strike action, the University of Sheffield has said it will remain open, the majority of teaching will go ahead as usual, and exams will continue to take place. Students should assume classes, exams, and deadlines remain the same unless notified otherwise.
Members of the University and Colleges Union last participated in strikes in November last year, when an estimated 70,000 walked out in their largest strike performed so far. The UCU anticipate similar numbers, and claim this new round will be ‘the biggest series of strikes ever to hit UK university campuses.’
In an address to UCU members, General Secretary Jo Grady said the group had given employers enough time to negotiate and find an alternative to the need for strike action, and that ‘the ball is firmly in their court’, but that enough has not been done. The group would not stop until they receive an offer that Ms Grady ‘would be proud as General Secretary’ to put to members.