Leaked emails suggested they would not negotiate on UCU's key issue, retaining defined benefits. "The cost of a babysitter is a lot of money and she charges me per child, so when I weigh it up, maybe it is better to stay home - but I will lose money, that's for sure," Virginia says. launched an open letter for student officers across the UK to sign, calling on UCEA to #SettleTheDispute with . [489][490], After six days of strike action in 2023, the joint unions paused the strike action "to allow our ongoing negotiations to continue in a constructive environment",[22] citing progress in ongoing negotiations on both pensions and working conditions; the UCU general secretary Jo Grady nonetheless emphasised that industrial action had not ceased and that she sought a renewed mandate for industrial action. [135], On 18 May, UUK and UCU announced that the Joint Expert Panel would be chaired by Joanne Segars. [383] By January 2021, reporting suggested that between 40 and 55 universities had rent strikes underway. Learning. The package of cuts made earlier this year will see the average member lose 35% from their guaranteed future retirement income. Her undergraduate degree was disrupted by strikes and Covid, and now she is missing a seminar on Friday because of this walkout, she said. [80], UCU stated that UUK's proposal would "leave a typical lecturer almost 10,000 a year worse off in retirement than under the current set-up",[81][82] with younger staff the worst affected, with some losing up to half their anticipated pensions.[7]. Moreover, USS emphasised that its room for manoeuvre was constrained by the Pensions Regulator. Following 4 December, Union members were also to begin action short of a strike. [261], The Chinese embassy in the UK also made representations to the Department for Education, expressing concern for the situation of Chinese students in the UK. [130], The result of the ballot was the UCU members accepted UUK proposal. [307], As the strikes began, the Guardian published an editorial arguing that the strikes represented "a battle for the soul of the campus" and that "the market model in higher education has created an intellectual precariat who are right to fight back". [306] Reading University Students Union voted to support the strikes, but was unusual in doing so. [252] By 17 June, over 5,000 had joined. The action has been characterised as "something of a milestone" for "impending service sector strikes of the 21st century. I believe education is a public good and not a service to be sold. [506] These threats prompted localised strikes at at least twenty universities,[507] including the calling of indefinite strikes at Leeds and Brighton in response to the prospect of 100% pay deductions. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. [388] In consequence, UCEA unilaterally implemented a "1.8% uplift on all points on the spine, with higher percentage awards for points 2 to 16". During the period covered by this article, strikes also took place on local disputes at individual universities, including student rent strikes in 202021 in the context of universities' failure to provide promised in-person teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic; these are covered (incompletely) in the table of all strike action below. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. With the commencement of strikes, UUK agreed to meet UCU for further negotiations on 27 February. The National Union of Students (NUS) is calling for a National student strike on the 2nd of March. [79], USS had a legal responsibility to satisfy the UK pensions regulator that the scheme was sound, and the regulator was requiring change. [297], Strikes began on 25 November. [366], As the strikes came to an end, UK universities found themselves under a relatively sudden set of pressures as the COVID-19 pandemic led to falling projections for international student recruitment,[367] and UK universities rapidly switching their teaching to online modes. [3][7] The Office for National Statistics found that in 2018, 66% of all working days lost to strike action were accounted for by the education sector, "due mainly to disputes involving employees of universities". [303] A few universities were reported as being heavy-handed in their response to the strikes, with the University of Liverpool attracting criticism for telling its students they must not join picket lines;[304] Sheffield Hallam putting a form online for students to record which lecturers were on strike (which attracted a large number of satirical submissions);[305] and the University of Birmingham telling its staff that picketing on campus would be trespass (which attracted a large petition in opposition). [14] UCEA claimed that institutions where strikes took place saw one third of UCU members, or 9% of total staff, actually striking. [199] In a letter to The Times of 16 March, the vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, Stephen Toope, expressed sympathy with the concerns of staff and students about not only pensions, but also marketisation of UK universities,[200][201][202] and held a wide-ranging public meeting with around 550 staff and students in Great St Mary's Church, scheduling a further such meeting for 26 April. Lesley McCorrigan, 'Fourteen Days, Hold Tight: Reflections from Leeds on the USS Strike', Esther Muddiman, Rowan Campbell and Grace Krause, "Let's Keep it Casual? [11], As of 28 March, nearly 700 external examiners had recorded their resignations in a UCU document. The NEU announced the strike action on 17 June, and at the time its joint general secretaries, Dr Mary Bousted and . [333], The report also recommended three-way talks between UCU, UUK and USS on the governance of USS to lead to future pension policies being more satisfactory to scheme stakeholders. Explore the National Student Survey data in full. She said further disruption could be avoided if concerns were "addressed with urgency", and added that, if not, "even bigger action" would follow next year. One student has brought along a machine to make badges for those on the picket line (and says the 80 was worth it). Over 70,000 university staff at 150 universities will strike for three days later this month over attacks on pay, working conditions and pensions. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. [121], The Financial Times noted that this would be "a far more comprehensive review of the current structure and valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme" than previously considered, but also noted that "the new agreement avoids any mention of increases in contributions by either employers or employees to plug the hole in the scheme". ', Email: UCU press office A Department for Education spokesperson said: Further strike action will cause real damage to pupil learning and even more disruption for parents right across the country. Members of the public should call our general enquiries line on 0370 000 2288. Fight on to victory! The number of institutions with a mandate to strike at this point stood at 74 in total: 47 for pay/conditions and pensions, 22 for pay/conditions only, and 5 for pensions only. On 8 March, UCU's Higher Education Committee agreed that it would call further strikes if necessary after the Easter vacation, between April and June. Read about our approach to external linking. The idea is to join alongside other students and students' unions to organise for a New vision for Education and gather in a public space over central London. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning. [112], A statutory 64-day consultation by USS on pension changes had been due to commence on 19 March, but as of 15 March, USS were declaring an unspecified delay to the commencement of consultations. [7][78] UUK stated the defined contributions proposal would compare well with private-sector competitors, with employer contributions double the private sector average. As is normal, the STRB will look only at pay for next year, meaning teachers will not receive a one-off payment for this year (2022 to 2023). [107][108], UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said that preparations for strikes during the exam period would be made, while urgently seeking further talks. [318], The 2019 strikes took place in a somewhat different regulatory and legal environment from the 2018 ones, due to the establishment of the Office for Students and the emergence of a body of case-law from the Office of the Independent Adjudicator on the compensation of students for lost teaching in the wake of the 2018 strikes. Our pensions system is a hot mess, University pension boss's 82,000 pay rise, The university pensions strike is a last resort for STEM academics, Examining the Numbers on Pension Valuation, http://www.dannydorling.org/wp-content/files/dannydorling_publication_id6103.pdf, UK university staff offered 1.7 per cent pay rise for 2018-19, Striking staff defiant as v-cs close ranks on pay and pensions, Students hit by 14-day university lecturers strike, Higher Education Staff Statistics: UK, 2018/19, UK universities rely on casual staff 'for up to half of teaching', 'Genie out of the bottle' on casualisation after pension strikes, Young European researchers set groundwork for policy changes, Bratislava Declaration of Young Researchers, #IchbinHanna: German researchers snap over lack of permanent jobs, Universities brace for government scrutiny after Policy Exchange report, Revealed: British university vice-chancellors' five-star expenses, British professionals revolt as austerity hits the middle class, Theresa May's university review will not scrap fees, Universities and the allure of capital markets, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/university-debt-credit-crunch-looms-as-debt-spirals, "University pension fund deficit soars to 17.5bn", If you look at the economics, it's completely reasonable for university lecturers to strike over pension changes, "USS strike: social media has collapsed the case for pension cuts", USS strike: we can't ignore reality of our deficit, says pensions boss, "Why I'm a striking lecturer: I want to stop the slow death of public education | Becky Gardiner", Universities UK chief Alistair Jarvis: union's pension demands will cost 1bn a year, USS strike: academics are wrong to walk out, USS strike: regulator is to blame for pensions crisis, University lecturers begin strike action over pensions, "The university pension strike will only end when we're listened to | Sally Hunt", "Financial health overview - Higher Education Funding Council for England", Universities threaten to punish striking staff over cancelled lectures, Universities strike blamed on vote by Oxbridge colleges, "Oxbridge universities 'given greater say than other institutions' on pensions cuts driving higher education strike", The solution to university pensions? It is unclear how much teaching will be called off, as union members do not have to say whether they will be striking. The March 2 walkout has been co-ordinated with a student strike organised by the National Union of Students (NUS). In 2020 the Office for Students (OfS) and the UK funding and regulatory bodies began a two-stage review of the NSS with an aim to ensure the NSS remains fit for purpose and continues to support regulation and student information across the UK. However, some vice-chancellors expressed support for UCU's position before the strike. Are you a student who is affected by the industrial action? Time and again our calls have fallen on stony ground, they said. Anger in Paris after police kill teen in traffic stop, South Koreans become younger under new law, Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation, NYC's plan to slice pizza emissions causes backlash, City centre bar forced to close by huge bee swarm, Actor Julian Sands confirmed dead after remains identified, Ex-NFL player Mallett, 35, dies in apparent drowning. For those at the beginning of their careers the losses are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. [294][295], On 19 November, UUK and UCEA jointly wrote an open letter 'to staff impacted by the UCU pensions and pay disputes', partly arguing that 'the publication of the JEP's second report will present UUK and UCU with the opportunity to develop a valuable and sustainable future for USS' and that while universities 'simply cannot afford to put more into this year's pay increases than they already have', UCEA had invited negotiations on 'workload, gender pay/equality and casual employment arrangements'. The National Education Union (NEU) has announced two additional strike days in schools in England on 5 and 7 July. The second round of strikes ran from 25 November to 4 December 2019, and on fourteen days between 20 February and 13 March 2020. It said on average across England, the offer is fully funded. [21][488] In 2023, UCU scheduled strikes for 1, 910, 1416, 2123 and 2728 February, and 12, 1617, and 2022 March. "UCU faces 'ultimate test' as v-cs seek to blunt marking boycott", "Formal consultation - HE employers' proposals on pay and working conditions and USS", "It would be a betrayal to back down now": university pay row reaches new level of acrimony, Marking boycott impact downplayed by universities, union claims, University workers on indefinite strike discuss how to win, Union and employers clash over impact of UK marking boycott, Fears raised over quality checks amid university marking boycott, The pandemic ruined my A-levels now the marking boycott casts a shadow over my degree, Graduate employers should consider impact of marking boycott, Industrial Action Ballot UCU (Northern Ireland), "UCU - University College Union-USS - L2379_1", More universities to be balloted for strikes, Press Release End of the 18-19 Dispute and Plans for the Future, Important wins for Bristol rent strikers, but the fight has only just begun, We, Goldsmiths Staff, Are Striking for the Future of Our Universities, "Goldsmiths local UCU strike Nov 23rd Dec 13th 2021", A decade of marketisation has left lecturers with no choice but to strike, Strike action underway at Uni of Leicester over redundancies, University of Liverpool staff begin strike over job losses, University of Liverpool staff call off strike action, Liverpool strikes off as compulsory redundancies averted, Cleaners announce biggest ever strike for outsourced workers in Higher Education, Manchester Rent Strike wins up to 900 rent reduction for all students in halls, Students Evicted By University After Rent Strike, Activists Say. [288], On the same day, UCU reported that of 148 branches balloted, at least 54 had passed the 50% turnout threshold or were otherwise able to take industrial action. Three other teaching unions, the NAHT, the NASUWT, and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), are also balloting members on strike action for the autumn term. [99], On the evening of Monday 12 March UCU and UUK issued a joint agreement, arrived at through ACAS, to be put to their respective members. As one of the world's largest student movements, we're fighting to make education free and lifelong. Video, The endangered languages that are fighting back, fewer than half of schools (45.3%) fully open, following a revised pay offer from the Scottish government, Anger in Paris after police kill teen in traffic stop, South Koreans become younger under new law, Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation, NYC's plan to slice pizza emissions causes backlash, City centre bar forced to close by huge bee swarm, Actor Julian Sands confirmed dead after remains identified, Ex-NFL player Mallett, 35, dies in apparent drowning. The University of Sussex said it was "very concerned" about its students, and that measures to "minimise the impact of the strike" included rescheduled teaching and extra materials. [365], Meanwhile, debate on USS was complicated by USS beginning their 2020 valuation, with UCU criticising USS's valuation methods and calling on UUK for support. For example, universities, whose capital expenditure had traditionally been funded to a significant extent by government funding, were increasingly borrowing from private capital markets, making them concerned about their credit ratings, and with uncertain consequences for their finances and governance. "But this is for the future of education.". And her workload meant she struggled to manage research, teaching and pastoral care.
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