THREE consecutive days of strike action will hit Durham University’s campus starting today (Wednesday) after university bosses refused to withdraw pension cuts or address falling pay and worsening working conditions. 

University and College Union (UCU) members at the historic university will be on strike, with picket lines to be held on each of the three strike days.

This announcement from the Union comes after its members at 58 institutions backed strike action in two separate ballots last month, one over pension cuts and one over pay and working conditions. 

READ MORE Durham University question strike action timing over pay dispute

Staff pay, including in Durham, has fallen by 20 per cent after twelve years of below-inflation pay offers, whilst almost 90,000 academic and academic-related staff are employed on insecure contracts, according to the UCU. 

The gender pay gap in UK universities sits at 15 per cent, whilst the disability pay gap is 9 per cent and the race pay gap is 17 per cent, staff are also experiencing a crisis of work-related stress, with over half showing signs of depression. 

Research by the National Union of Students shows 73 per cent of students support university staff taking strike action.

The Northern Echo: UCU members will strike at Durham University from today. They have done so previously over pension levels (pictured). UCU members will strike at Durham University from today. They have done so previously over pension levels (pictured).

To resolve the pay and working conditions dispute, the UCU is demanding a £2,500 pay increase for all staff, as well as action to tackle unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and insecure contracts that blight the sector. 

UCU general secretary, Jo Grady, has described its members as getting “the bare minimum” currently – something that she wants to see a change in Durham and across the UK. 

She said: “It is deeply regrettable that staff have been forced into taking industrial action again, but sadly university bosses have shown little interest in negotiating in good faith and addressing the serious concerns of staff over falling pay, massive pension cuts, equality pay gaps and the rampant use of insecure contracts. 

The Northern Echo: UCU have demanded that Durham University pay staff an extra £2500.UCU have demanded that Durham University pay staff an extra £2500.

“The truth is that staff are asking for the bare minimum in a sector awash with money. But sadly, the only time vice-chancellors seem to listen is when staff take action, and those leading our universities should not underestimate their determination to change this sector for the better.  

“We are grateful to all the students who are supporting staff taking industrial action because they understand that staff working conditions are student learning conditions. 

The UCU general secretary added: “Vice-chancellors now need to concentrate on asking themselves why strikes have become an annual occurrence and seek to resolve this dispute to avoid more needless disruption to learning. 

“If they continue to ignore the modest demands of staff then we will be forced to take further industrial action in the new year, which even more branches will join.”

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