University staff set to strike

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Lecturers and staff at the University of Stirling are set to strike this month over pay, pensions and working conditions.

The strikes will take place on November 24, 25 and 30.

The University and College Union (UCU) have deemed this the biggest ever strike to hit UK universities, with more than 70,000 staff members at 150 universities expected to take action.

This comes after UCU members – including nearly 400 at the University of Stirling – voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action last month.

81.1 per cent of members voted in favour of strike action for better pay and working conditions, while 84.9 per cent voted to strike against pension cuts.

It is estimated that 2.5 million students will be affected by the strikes but the UCU say that disruption can be avoided if employers make improved offers.

UCU General Secretary, Jo Grady, said: “Campuses across the UK are about to experience strike action on a scale never seen before. 70,000 staff will walk out and make clear they refuse to accept falling pay, cuts to pensions and insecure employment.

“This is not a dispute about affordability – it is about choices. Vice chancellors are choosing to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of pounds whilst forcing our members onto low paid and insecure contracts that leave some using food banks. They choose to hold billions in surpluses whilst slashing staff pensions.

“UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work. This dispute has the mass support of students because they know their learning conditions are our members’ working conditions.

Featured Image Credit: UCU

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News Editor at Brig Newspaper
Fourth year Journalism Studies at the University of Stirling

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