STAFF at Durham University could be ‘left in the lurch’ later this month after two separate unions have opposing views about whether fresh strike action will bring them improved pay, pensions, and conditions.
It was confirmed yesterday (January 19) that professors and other teaching staff could face fresh strike action this term after suggestions of ‘discontent’ between several UK institutions and the education unions.
The University and College Union (UCU) hasn’t ruled out further walkouts from its members concerning disputes over pensions, pay and conditions.
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It comes after staff from the historic university and 58 other institutions in the UK took part in a three-day strike ahead of Christmas.
The union’s higher education committee will meet this week to consider the next steps and possible dates for action at 68 universities across the UK, which, according to reports, could include Durham.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said staff in universities are “angry at having their pensions, pay and working conditions continually attacked”.
She added: “Employers, who have demonstrated superhuman levels of intransigence during these disputes, have no one else to blame but themselves for the position the sector finds itself in.
“We truly hope that further disruption can be avoided – that is what staff and students alike all want. But this is entirely in the gift of employers who simply need to revoke their devastating pension cuts and take long-overdue action over deteriorating pay and working conditions.”
The UCU claims that cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pensions scheme would reduce the guaranteed retirement income of a typical member by 35 per cent.
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It has also suggested that pay for university staff has fallen by around a fifth after 12 years of below-inflation pay offers, while thousands of academic staff are employed on “insecure” contracts.
The union is demanding that cuts to the pensions scheme are revoked, and members are offered a £2,500 pay increase, as well as action to tackle “unmanageable workloads” and “insecure contracts”.
However, the UCEA, which represents employers in the pay dispute, says there will be “dismay” at universities where strike action will now be considered.
UCEA chief executive Raj Jethwa said: “There was surprise and disappointment at UCU’s decision to re-ballot hand-picked HE institutions over last year’s pay outcome. Just over a quarter (9 of 38) of the branches reached the legal 50 per cent turnout threshold required for industrial action over pay.
“While the results will be disappointing for UCU’s campaign leaders, there will be further widespread dismay at all at those HE institutions where strike action will now be considered.
“It is now nearly six months (August 2021) since employees covered by the national pay negotiations saw pay increases of at least 1.5%. The great majority of HE staff understand the financial realities for their institutions and have moved on from last year’s balanced outcome.
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“We trust that the UCU will now engage constructively in this year’s (2022-23) multi-employer negotiating round, which is planned to begin at the end of March.”
Despite not being drawn on whether strike action would be happening at Durham University this term, a spokesperson for the institution told The Northern Echo that the active period for strike action would run until May 2022 – but couldn’t confirm whether staff would follow the calls from unions to strike.
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