Teaching union warns of strikes

UNIVERSITIES could face strike action if staff are asked to resume “unsafe” in-person teaching this academic year, a union warned.

The University and College Union (UCU) said online learning should remain in place to protect staff, students and communities. It said moves to restart face-toface teaching this academic year were “impractical” amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The union warned it was willing to ballot members on industrial action if they felt their wellbeing was being put at risk. The UCU said university staff cannot do their jobs in “unsafe and unpredictable working conditions”, with some already “burnt out” by the demands imposed on them.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We need as much university teaching as possible to remain online for the rest of the academic year. Death rates are higher than ever, and with the Government’s rapid testing programme under severe scrutiny and the huge logistical hurdles in rolling out the vaccine, even an Easter return now looks hopelessly optimistic.

“We are willing to ballot universities that are putting our members’ wellbeing at risk, and some UCU branches have already taken this step.”