WATCH: NI lecturers begin two-week strike today over pay and pensions
It is part of a UK-wide walk-out
Last updated 20th Feb 2020
Academic staff at Queen's and Ulster universities are walking out today (Thursday), beginning 14 days of strikes.
It is part of a long-running dispute over pay and pensions, with 74 universities across the UK taking part.
The University and College Union says it is the largest wave of strikes ever seen on UK campuses.
The union accused Universities UK, the universities' representatives in the pensions dispute, of refusing to make a new offer on pensions.
It said the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) would not talk to the union about the pay element of the dispute.
A UCEA spokesman said universities were "deeply disappointed'' that extensive strikes were going ahead.
"UCEA has offered UCU further informal talks and urges the union's leaders to reconsider pursuing damaging strike action at less than half of universities, damaging students, staff and their own members - who are yet to be consulted over the new positive proposals that are on the table.
"These proposals address the important issues around employment in universities, focusing on casual employment, workload/mental health and gender pay gaps/ethnicity pay.
"These proposals followed exhaustive, but always constructive, dialogue with UCU over the last two months and with the other trade unions over the past year.
"UCEA has listened carefully and engaged with all 147 of the 2019-20 participating universities in developing a raft of statements and actions. We have sought to reflect the importance of these employment issues to employees, trade unions and universities alike.
"UCEA has consulted all of its members in presenting these positive proposals. UCU is urged to consult all of its members in presenting these positive proposals to them.''
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Vice-chancellors have had months to come up with serious offers to avoid widespread disruption on UK campuses. Their failings are clear for all to see today and the blame for the disruption caused by the strikes lays squarely at their door.
"It is incredible they can accuse the union of acting in bad faith when they refuse to talk about the pay issue and have spent a whole week failing to come up with an offer on pensions. Worryingly, it looks like the hard-line vice-chancellors who wish to prolong this dispute are still pulling the strings at UCEA and at UUK.
"University staff are not going to be lectured on austerity or the necessity to hold down pay, worsen conditions and increase pension contributions from out of touch vice-chancellors whose own record on pay and perks has shamed the higher education sector.
"Although vice-chancellors are refusing to budge, UCU remains ready to discuss all elements of the disputes and to work towards a resolution.''