Published: 25th January, 2023
When we are striking:
Why we are striking:
The UK university sector generated a record income of £41.1bn last year with vice chancellors collectively earning an estimated £45million. The sector can more than afford to meet staff demands. Industrial action, and a strong mandate for action from 70000 members in the UK, is the leverage needed to bring employers to the negotiating table.
This latest bout of action comes after the rejection of a below inflation pay offer by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which UCU has deemed as ‘not enough’.
Dr Joseph Choonara, Co-chair of Leicester University UCU, states: “Staff in universities such as ours had already lost, in real terms, a fifth of our salary in the decade since 2011. In the past year we’ve seen another cut of over 10% and our pensions are being slashed by a third. That’s why UCU has called another 18 days of strike action in February and March. The 1 February strike will see something approaching half a million workers across the public sector strike, and here in Leicester we plan to coordinate protests with school teachers, civil servants and others taking action on the day.”
UCU is not unique. We join dozens of British trade unions with a mandate for industrial action. Workers are frustrated at wealthy employers with record profits and giving bonuses to those at the top, whilst workers at the bottom have their wages stifled in the face of rising costs and crippling energy bills.
We never undertake action lightly. Members are at breaking point. We are doing this to save the institutions we love, and to achieve dignity at work. Students learning conditions are our members’ working conditions.
Join us on the picket lines. Each morning of the strike days we will be picketing outside University entrances telling staff, students and visitors why we are on strike and encouraging people to join us. We will also have a number of teach out events on a number of different topics. These are lively, friendly and safe spaces which everyone is welcome to attend.
Share your support for our action on social media, tagging us on Facebook. Twitter and Instagram @leicesterucu #ucuRISING
Download resources to show your support here.
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