‘Burnt-out’ university staff continue nationwide strike action
Thousands of university staff are “absolutely burnt out”, a union official said as thousands walked out on a second day of strike action in Scotland.
Around 8,000 lecturers, librarians and researchers who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) continued their 48-hour walkout yesterdayinanongoingdispute over pay, pensions and conditions.
Theactioncameasroyalmail workers also continued their strike for the same reasons.
The UCU said many of its members were employed on precarious contracts, which doesnotgivethemenoughtime for marking or supporting students. The union also claims members have lost 35 per cent of their expected pension income after cuts were made to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
UCU Scotland’s Mary Senior said staff were “burnt out” and that hundreds were on short-term or hourly contracts that had seen the value of their pay shrink by 25 per cent since 2009.