University workers start strike action

Classes at universities across Britain and Northern Ireland are being disrupted as staff begin an eight-day strike today. The action is due to last from 25 November until 4 December. 

University staff belonging to the University and College Union are sick of being taken for granted by the employer and are prepared to keep up the fight until they win their demands. They want more pay, better conditions, and assurances that their staff pension scheme will not rise.

“According to modelling by First Actuarial, because of the changes to USS, a typical member will pay around £40,000 more in to their pension, but receive almost £200,000 less in retirement leaving them £240,000 worse off in total,” says the union.

Contributions hike

The union told the Universities Superannuation scheme that there would be action unless the level of pension contribution was kept to 8 per cent of salary. Instead the scheme hiked contributions to 9.6 per cent and failed to change the level during negotiations.

But it is noticeable that neither the employers nor the union is not mentioning the elephant in the room: that the rise in contributions is required because of actuarial assumptions dictated not by common sense but by the European Union, through the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, which regulates pension schemes throughout the EU.

They are also challenging their workload – which sees many working for more than 50 hours a week – and the use of casual contracts. The last strike took place in 2018, when staff eventually triumphed in their pensions-related argument.

Students were particularly supportive last year, recognising that their experience in the classroom is only going to be improved if they have less stressed, properly paid, decently employed teachers. The signs are that the support is still there. At Bristol, students made their way to the strike rally on 25 November chanting, “Students are workers too.”