Universities could be next to be hit by action as staff balloted

UNITE, which represents workers in higher education, is balloting members at several universities – including Glasgow – for strike action in a dispute over a real terms pay cut.

Unite is currently balloting its members at Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and Sussex universities, with other institutions also possibly being added to the action.

The ballots will be completed by mid-November, with strike action pencilled in for late November.

The University and Colleges Union (UCU) and public services union Unison are also balloting their members at these universities.

Unite national officer for education Siobhan Endean said: “University staff have had enough. They are being forced to take on extra work, work harder for less pay and are struggling to make ends meet.

“Universities can afford to give workers a decent pay rise which would begin to tackle the pay cuts that workers have suffered over the past decade but have chosen not to do so.”

A two per cent pay increase for university staff, which is below the current retail price index (RPI) inflation rate of 3.3 per cent, was imposed on workers in August.

Union bosses said that if strike action occurs then the targeted universities will almost certainly be forced to close, disrupting lectures and teaching.