Sheffield University hit by strike action today as UCU members walk out

The UCU – University and College Union – announced plans for campus walkouts over pensions, pay and working conditions last month.

Today is the first day of action by lecturers and other staff from the University of Sheffield, with Sheffield Hallam University employees set to be involved in similar action later this month.

The union claims the strike is a ‘fight for the future of higher education’ with staff at ‘breaking point’ after a decade of cuts to pensions, falling pay and worsening working conditions.

It claims staff face a 35 per cent cut to their guaranteed retirement income, as well as a 20 per cent real term pay cut over the past 12 years, unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and insecure contracts.

A five day strike over pensions starts today, Monday February 14, and runs until Friday February 18; two strike days over pensions, pay and conditions are scheduled on February 21 and 22; and three strike days are planned from February 28 until March 2 over pay and conditions.

The final day of strike action in week three has been called to coincide with a ‘student strike’ on Wednesday March 2, organised by the NUS. The NUS is calling for higher and further education to be free at the point of use for students and for staff to get better working conditions, pay and pensions.

The UCU wants a £2,500 pay rise for all staff, as well as action to tackle unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and the use of insecure contracts.

The dates follow on from three days of strikes in December.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The action that begins today and will eventually hit 68 universities is down to vice chancellors who have failed staff and students. They have pushed through brutal pension cuts and done nothing to address falling pay, pay inequality, the rampant use of insecure contracts and unmanageable workloads."

A University of Sheffield spokesperson said: “We have been notified that UCU will be asking its members at Sheffield and 67 other universities across the country to take part in further strike action over national pensions and pay and working conditions, for up to 10 days.

“Our priority is to minimise disruption for those students who are affected to ensure that learning and teaching continues to be delivered. Student support services will continue to be available and we will be communicating regularly with our students and staff to let them know about any changes that may occur as a result of the strike action.

“We will continue to work with our local trade unions and national representatives and encourage both parties to work together at a national level to explore ways to resolve these disputes.”

Sheffield Hallam is only affected by the strike action on week two and week three – a total of five days.

A spokesperson said: “As a university, we will make every effort to keep students and staff informed of the latest information regarding the national UCU dispute.

“Our overriding priority during any possible industrial action, will be to minimise disruption for students and the wider university community.”