Massive UK Uni Strikes Loom Over Pay, Pensions, and Conditions
Starting Wednesday 1 February, 150 UK universities face the biggest strike wave in history. Up to 70,000 University and College Union (UCU) members plan walkouts through February and March unless bosses drastically improve pay, working conditions, and pension offers.
Strike Schedule: February to March Chaos
- Week 1: Wednesday 1 February
- Week 2: Thursday 9 & Friday 10 February
- Week 3: Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 February
- Week 4: Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 February
- Week 5: Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 February, Wednesday 1 & Thursday 2 March
- No strikes starting Monday 6 March
- Week 6: Thursday 16 & Friday 17 March
- Week 7: Monday 20, Tuesday 21 & Wednesday 22 March
UCU Demands Action Mandate Extension
The union is also reballoting its 70,000 members at the 150 universities to extend strike mandates and keep pressure on employers through the academic year. The reballot campaign launches this week.
UCU Hits Back: ‘Uni Bosses Sitting on £40bn Reserves’
UCU general secretary Jo Grady blasted university chiefs:
“The university sector in the UK has over £40bn sitting in reserves, but instead of using that vast wealth to deliver a cost-of-living pay rise and reverse devastating pension cuts, university vice-chancellors would rather force staff to take strike action and see campuses shut down.
There is a clear route out of these disputes, but at present vice-chancellors lack the political will to take it. They are failing staff who want to get back to work, and students who want to get on with their studies.
Students understand that staff working conditions are their learning conditions and we are proud to have their support in these disputes. A system that relies on low pay and the rampant use of insecure contracts is a system which fails everyone.
A resolution can be reached, but that is in the gift of university vice-chancellors who need to urgently reassess their priorities and deliver a deal that benefits staff and students. From February, our union will begin reballoting its members to allow action to continue through the rest of the academic year, should they continue to drag their feet.”
