Campuses to fall silent again as December's university strikes go ahead

University representatives rebuff unions' requests for pay rise

A picket line of campaigners for fair pay at the University of East Anglia on November 1st (Flickr (Roger Blackwell))

Talks to stop a second day of strike action at universities across the country have failed as pay increases for academics were labelled as “at the limits of affordability” by a university employment spokesperson.

The University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed that a second wave of strikes will take place as planned on 3 December.

UCU's head of bargaining, Michael MacNeil, said: “If we are to stand any chance of resolving this dispute the employers need to improve the offer that started the row in the first place.”

The union is asking for an improvement on the rejected one per cent pay increase that had previously been offered by UK universities, which first prompted strikes in October.

Mr MacNeil continued: “We are naturally disappointed that the employers chose not to improve the offer, but we remain hopeful there can be talks before the strike on Tuesday 3 December.

“However, if the employers turn up empty handed again then disruption in our universities looks inevitable,” he said.

According to UCU, university staff have faced a real-terms pay cut of 13 per cent since 2009.

A spokesperson for UCEA said: “The threat of further industrial action is naturally disappointing.

“UCEA, on behalf of the 150 HE institutions, has made clear throughout the negotiations that the one per cent uplift for all, on top of other pay increases totalling around three per cent, is at the limits of affordability.”

Although there has been no agreement, representatives from all sides have confirmed intentions to continue discussion in the hope of resolution ahead of the walk out.

Members of the UCU, UNISON and Unite trade unions will be joined for the first time by colleagues in the EIS union on 3 December.