University strikes: Why staff across the UK are taking industrial action

University students at 145 UK institutions are being hit by a marking boycott, as a dispute about staff pay and working conditions continues.

The action by members of the University and College Union (UCU) will cover all marking and assessments, as well as assessment-related work such as exam invigilation or processing marks.

The union says boycott could effect graduations. University employers have previously said strike action has only caused "low and isolated" levels of disruption to students.

The union has been in two separate disputes with employers. One is about pay and working conditions, and the other is about pensions.

In the pensions dispute, talks are continuing after members voted to move forward with employer proposals.

The marking boycott begins on Thursday 20 April and will carry on until employers make an improved offer, the UCU says.

Industrial action has been taking place at some universities since 2021.

Lecturers, librarians, technicians, security staff and catering workers are among the tens of thousands of UCU members who went on strike on several days in February and March.

Further dates could soon be announced now that UCU members have voted in favour of more strike action.

UCU members at 83 universities are striking over pay and working conditions, five have been striking over pensions and 62 have been striking over both issues. You can read the full list here.

Unison members at 21 universities have taken part in strike action. Members at Arts University Bournemouth are striking on 25 April.

Unite and EIS have also been on strike but do not have any further dates scheduled.

The Universities and College Employers Association (UCEA) says the strikes have caused "low and isolated" levels of disruption to students.

Universities UK (UUK), which represents 140 institutions, said some universities have extended coursework deadlines and rescheduled teaching.

If students feel the measures put in place are not good enough, they can use their university's existing complaints procedure.

The UCU says 70,000 staff have taken part in the strikes and they have been "overwhelmed by the support of thousands of students" who have joined picket lines.

For most staff involved in industrial action, it is about 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".

The UCEA says the January 2023 offer was the highest higher education pay offer made in nearly 20 years, and was "a genuine attempt by employers to address cost-of-living pressures".

It says any increase in pay "puts jobs at risk". Some 30% of universities are already in deficit.

After a consultation, 56% of participating UCU members voted to reject the latest pay offer.

Despite talks stalling, the UCEA has advised universities to implement the 2023-24 pay uplift, backdated to February.

It said it is "fully committed to working with the trade unions", but that further industrial action - such as the marking and assessment boycott - puts talks in jeopardy.

The separate dispute over pensions began more than a decade ago, but was reignited by the revaluation of the pension scheme used by staff at institutions that have had university status since before 1992.

The UCU says the revaluation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) 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.

UCU members have voted for further talks on fresh proposals to restore these benefits - but the union says it could still take further strike action if employers backtrack.

UUK says restoring benefits and helping to reduce employees' contributions are two of its priorities.

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 do not have to - they can make their own decisions.

The 2022-23 pay scale was implemented in August 2022.

The median salary for a professor is about £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 about £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 receive 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.

Correction 25 January 2023: This article was amended with revised figures for professors' salaries after clarification from the UCEA.

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