University strikes: Why staff across the UK are taking industrial action
- Published
Tens of thousands of staff at 150 universities across the UK are striking on several dates throughout February and March.
The action is over pay, working conditions and pension cuts.
When are university staff striking?
Members of four unions are currently taking part in strike action.
Academic staff are walking out, as are those in other roles including librarians, technicians, security and catering workers.
The University and College Union (UCU) had been due to take part in 18 days of industrial action in February and March.
However, it paused the strike action on 17 February after making what it described as "significant process across a range of issues". It called off seven strike dates on:
- 21, 22 and 23 February
- 27 and 28 February
- 1 and 2 March
Strikes are still due to go ahead on:
- 16 and 17 March
- 20, 21 and 22 March
The union has said it will re-ballot staff at 150 universities about further strike action.
UCU staff also walked out in November 2022. Industrial action has been taking place at some universities since 2021.
Which universities are involved?
UCU members at 83 universities are striking over pay and working conditions, five will see strikes over pensions and 62 will see strikes over both issues. You can see the full list here.
Unison members at 17 universities are striking over pay and conditions. The full list is here.
EIS members are taking action over pay at Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow Caledonian and the University of the West of Scotland.
Unite members at the University of Leeds and Royal Holloway University are also taking action.
Are lectures being cancelled?
The Universities and College Employers Association (UCEA) said there was little disruption during strikes in November.
Universities UK (UUK), which represents 140 institutions, said some universities extended coursework deadlines and rescheduled teaching.
If students feel the measures put in place aren't good enough, they can use their university's existing complaints procedure.
The UCU said 70,000 staff took part in the action in November, and that they were "overwhelmed by the support of thousands of students" who joined picket lines.
Why are university staff striking?
Most staff are striking over pay and conditions.
For the 2022-23 pay round, the unions have asked for:
The unions said they were offered an improved pay deal for 2023-24 worth between 5% and 8% on 25 January, but this was a real-terms "pay cut". Further talks are planned.
Some UCU members are also striking over pensions.
The dispute over pensions began more than a decade ago, but was reignited by the revaluation of the pension scheme used by academic staff - the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
The UCU says this valuation was "flawed" because it took place at the start of the pandemic, "when global markets were crashing", and recorded a deficit of £14.1bn.
Changes were introduced which meant pension contributions increased and future benefits were reduced.
According to the UCU, the average member "will lose 35% from their guaranteed future retirement income".
It says the scheme was more recently found to have a surplus of £1.8bn and is demanding that employers restore staff pension benefits.
How much do lecturers get paid?
Every year, a committee including trade union and employer representatives meets and decides on any changes to university workers' pay.
Most universities opt in to the negotiations, but they don't have to - they can make their own decisions.
The 22/23 pay scale was implemented in August 2022.
The median salary for a professor is around £80,000, according to analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency figures carried out by the UCEA employers' body. Some 25% of professor salaries are at or below around £70,000, the UCEA says.
However, the UCU says a third of academic staff are on temporary contracts and are paid hourly.
It says that casual staff only get holiday entitlement based on the hours they work and have inadequate paid time to prepare for their classes.
Staff titles vary across institutions, and universities employ staff on different types of temporary contracts. Some academics say their salary is substantially less than the figures quoted.
What do university employers say?
The UCEA says any increase in pay "puts jobs at risk". Some 30% of universities are already in deficit.
It says the January 2023 offer is the highest HE pay offer made in nearly 20 years was "a genuine attempt by employers to address cost of living pressures".
On pensions, Universities UK said it is working with the UCU ahead of the next pension scheme valuation.
It said that without the changes in pension benefits which have been introduced, employees would have had to pay much more in contributions.
Correction 25 January 2023: This article was amended with revised figures for professors' salaries after clarification from the UCEA.