UK university strikes to continue despite offer of fresh talks

Strike action at UK universities will go ahead as planned despite both sides claiming progress in talks on key issues facing the sector.

The University and College Union’s Higher Education Committee (HEC) has decided the walkouts on 20, 21 and 22 March should continue amid intense discussion among members around the next steps.

An emergency meeting of the committee was called on 17 March after reviews of pay, contracts and workloads were agreed with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea), as well as a commitment to prioritise improving pensions benefits with Universities UK.

Critics argued that the “offer” did not amount to anything substantial other than a promise to hold fresh negotiations, and they appear to have won the argument in the committee.

In a brief update, general secretary Jo Grady told members: “Today the HEC has voted to continue action and also not to put the proposals out for members to vote on.

“This means the strike next week continues. We will now relay this position to the employers.”

Earlier in the week members had been asked to vote in an indicative online ballot on whether the proposals should be put out for full consultation, with the strikes paused in the meantime.

Two thirds of 36,000 members backed this position, the UCU said, although many complained that the wording of the question did not allow them to express a view on consultation and a pause separately.

This vote fed into a meeting of the union’s branch delegates before the HEC. They were given a say on each issue. More than half (52 per cent) voted in favour of consultation, but 70 per cent were opposed to suspending the strikes.

Reacting to the news, the chief executive of Ucea, Raj Jethwa, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.

“Every indication is that UCU members are tired of strike action,” he claimed. “That is why students and staff across the UK’s higher education sector will be deeply disappointed that the UCU’s Higher Education Committee has decided to proceed with next week’s attempted strike action.

“The agreement reached earlier this week reflected the employers’ genuine desire to positively reset industrial relations in our sector. There is a tangible offer on the table from employers to negotiate on the issues at the heart of this dispute. It is disappointing that the HEC has refused to put this to members.

“The HEC decisions, therefore, are even more disappointing because employers have been clear that these important talks cannot begin while strike action continues or strike dates are set. We urge the UCU to think again.”

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com