University strike dates in March and February have been officially confirmed by The University and College Union (UCU).
150 UK universities will feature teaching strikes for the prospect of better pay, working conditions, and to stop pension cuts.
Unless university employers make substantially improved offers in these disputes, in total, 70,000 (UCU) members will walk out.
The full strike dates are:
- Week 1 – Wednesday, 1 February
- Week 2 – Thursday, 9 and Friday, 10 February
- Week 3 – Tuesday, 14, Wednesday, 15 and Thursday, 16 February
- Week 4 – Tuesday, 21, Wednesday, 22 and Thursday, 23 February
- Week 5 – Monday, 27 and Tuesday, 28 February, and Wednesday, 1 and Thursday, 2 March
- Week 6 – Thursday, 16 and Friday, 17 March
- Week 7 – Monday, 20, Tuesday, 21 and Wednesday, 22 March
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The university sector in the UK has over £40bn sitting in reserves, but instead of using that vast wealth to deliver a cost-of-living pay rise and reverse devastating pension cuts, university vice-chancellors would rather force staff to take strike action and see campuses shut down.
“There is a clear route out of these disputes, but at present vice-chancellors lack the political will to take it.
“They are failing staff who want to get back to work, and students who want to get on with their studies.
“Students understand that staff working conditions are their learning conditions and we are proud to have their support in these disputes.
“A system that relies on low pay and the rampant use of insecure contracts is a system which fails everyone.
“A resolution can be reached, but that is in the gift of university vice-chancellors who need to urgently reassess their priorities and deliver a deal that benefits staff and students.
“From February, our union will begin reballoting its members to allow action to continue through the rest of the academic year, should they continue to drag their feet.”
If the action goes ahead, it will be the biggest series of strikes ever to hit UK university campuses.
The full list of universities facing strike action is available here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12474/Institutions-affected
