The opportunity to win

We did it!!

On Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Wednesday 30 November 2022, alongside 70,000 colleagues at 150 universities, we will be going on strike to defend our pay, conditions and pensions. The National Union of Students (NUS) has backed the strikes, which will be the biggest ever to hit UK universities and could impact 2.5 million students.  If employers do not make improved offers, strike action will escalate in the New Year alongside a marking and assessment boycott. Staff will also begin industrial action short of strike action from Wednesday 23 November, which includes working to rule, refusing to make up work lost as a result of strike action and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

We have a united leadership and clear goals and strategy. The strike dates lead up to a national demonstration outside the UCEA pay and conditions negotiations on 30 November 2022. Disputes over pay and conditions are widespread, with workers across the country participating in industrial action.  For example, 115,000 Communication Workers Unions (CWU) will be on strike on the same, busiest delivery, days.  

Demands

In the pay and working conditions dispute, the union’s demands include a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and action to end the use of insecure contracts. Employers imposed a pay rise worth just 3% this year following over a decade of below inflation pay awards. A third of academic staff are on some form of temporary contract.

In the pension dispute, UCU is demanding employers revoke the cuts and restore benefits. The package of cuts made earlier this year will see the average member lose 35% from their guaranteed future retirement income. For those at the beginning of their careers the losses are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The UK university sector generated record income of £41.1bn last year with vice chancellors collectively earning an estimated £45million.  UCU said the sector can more than afford to meet staff demands.

However, the strike will not succeed unless you play your part.  To win, every member needs to strike and needs to ask colleagues to join UCU so that we can genuinely shut down the sector.

Lancaster UCU will do everything to support members with the Hardship Fund, updated FAQs, local resources, working with students and organising pickets and events; please look out for further information in emails.  In the meantime, please get in touch with your department rep if you have any questions or ideas and we look forward to seeing you at our Emergency General Meeting on Thursday 17^th November at 1pm, link.

In solidarity, unity and hope,

Lancaster UCU committee