TUESDAY’S strikes by staff in colleges and universities closed institutions and key learning facilities with hundreds of classes cancelled, the UCU said yesterday.
The action, which involves members from Unison, Unite, UCU and EIS, sent a clear message to employers that staff deserve fair pay.
The University of the West of Scotland is closed and all but two sites at the City of Liverpool College are shut as a result of the action.
At the University of Sussex, a large boat being delivered to campus turned around rather than cross the picket line.
Staff in universities were offered a 1% pay rise this year, despite their pay plummeting by 13% in real terms in last four years.
They took action on 31 October and then members of UCU, Unite, Unison and the EIS trade unions walked out for a second time yesterday.
They were joined by lecturers in further education colleges in England who rejected a pay offer of just 0.7% from their national employers. They have seen their pay cut by 15% in real terms since 2009.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: ‘Staff have reached rock bottom with massive pay cuts over a long period yet they see their institutions ploughing money into new buildings and giving those at the top six-figure salaries.
‘What we are asking for is a modest and affordable pay rise to reward those who are the backbone of our post-16 education system and who have made it the success story it is today.’
Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis, who stood alongside workers on picket lines yesterday at the London School of Economics and the University of Westminster, said: ‘We are sending a clear message to cash-rich employers that they must stop behaving like the worst private sector employers. Universities are sitting on a surplus of £1bn but are failing to invest in their workforce.
‘Our members in higher education deserve a better standard of living for their hard work and the contribution they make to the success of UK universities.’
Sam Leigh, Unison regional organiser in Norwich, said: ‘Unison members’ support for the strike has been so strong that the public gallery and museum at the University of East Anglia have been closed for the day.’
On the back gate, Jimmy Cross from Unite said: ‘We’ve had good support so far. Everyone seems positive – from staff and students.’
He added: ‘Regarding privatisation, education should stay as a public service and keep services in-house and not outsource. This will give a better service to students.
‘I hope that there will be some more action.’
Student Merlin Seller, helping put up the UEA students union banner, said ‘Students should support their lecturers for the sake of the campus environment and the sustainability of higher education.
‘The same people who are cutting staff wages are privatising student loans.
‘We’re pleased that the students union is backing today’s strike.’
At Goldsmith’s in Londonthere were picket lines all across the campus and an occupation of the Deptford Town Hall building.
Conrad Grant, Goldsmith’s NUS union president, told News Line: ‘I feel it is important that students support their lecturers, that is why we occupied.’
He added: ‘The fight for a general strike is growing because everyone is under attack and wants to fight. I would like a general strike. It has to be done.’
At Harrow College in north west London, UCU Branch Chair Steve Hayward told News Line: ‘We have had no pay rise for five years, the national offer is 0.7%, but we’ve lost 15% of our purchasing power in the last five years.’
UCU member Chris Mayhew said at Birmingham University: ‘I am appalled by the disparity of pay between the management and the staff. They should be leading by example.
‘The privatisation of the university is absolutely immoral. The way the university system is going, it will just be education for the rich.’
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