University staff strike in pensions and pay dispute
BRISTOL University staff have begun three days of strikes over pay, pensions and working conditions.
Action began yesterday morning with a rally at the Victoria Rooms, followed by a march to College Green, with more than 1,000 university staff and students taking part.
University and College Union (UCU) members across 58 UK universities are on strike until tomorrow after voting in favour of action in separate ballots on two issues: pension cuts and pay.
Strikers and supporters at Bristol University are encouraging students not to attend classes over the three days. Students who support striking lecturers have put together a programme of ‘teach-outs’ over the next few days – talks on a range of topics, led by teaching staff.
Speakers at the rally yesterday voiced concerns over the increasing casualisation of university staff.
Kit Fotheringham, teaching associate and UCU branch officer, told the event: “I’m now on my second mental breakdown, but do I have any sick pay? No, I’m still on casualised contracts.”
He said after four years of working at the university he would be made redundant at the end of year, alongside many of his colleagues.
While on average university staff across the UK will face a 36 per cent reduction in pensions, casual employees like Kit do not have the option of joining the pension scheme.
Under university employment contracts, staff are employed in one of three ‘pathways’. Those in pathways two and three are not able to join the pension scheme and have less secure employment contracts, with lower pay.
The UCU says wages have fallen by 20 per cent in the past 12 years.
Mr Fotheringham said: “Many of you would have seen your electricity bills go up – mine’s doubled in the past month. We are choosing whether to eat or heat our home – absolute shame.”
There are likely to be follow-up strikes in the new year, with more universities participating.
The union is demanding a £2,500 pay rise for all staff, plus action on casual contracts, unmanageable workloads and pay inequality.
A Bristol University spokesperson said: “Regrettably, the University and College Union has announced further industrial action at the University of Bristol and other UK universities in the
I’m now on my second mental breakdown, but do I have any sick pay? KIT FOTHERINGHAM
continued dispute over the Universities Superannuation Scheme, staff pensions and the national pay award for 2021/22.
“Industrial action is part of a complex national dispute. These are important issues and we respect the right of our staff to strike, which we know was not an easy decision to make.
“As a university, we have worked collaboratively with our staff and the local UCU branch to put our collective views forward and have argued for higher employer contributions to help ensure the USS pension scheme is sustainable in the future. It goes without saying that our priority as a university is providing teaching and learning for our students, many of whom have already faced severe disruption due to the pandemic.”