West Midlands universities back on the picket line today

Eleven universities from around the West Midlands are going back out on the picket lines for a fifth time.

They're calling for action over better pay, working conditions and USS pensions.

It's the second time of strike from the University and College Union this month, with sixteen more strike dates to come over February and March.

A pay offer was made between four to five percent, but was refused during talks and called "insufficient".

University staff did hold three days of strike action last year in November.

Other academic staff and professional roles, like administrators, librarians and technicians, also walked out earlier in 2022 and in 2021.

It's expected more than 70,000 staff around the UK will be walking out today.

The UCU says "the clock is ticking" for university bosses to avoid widespread disruption this year.

The next date for strike action is February 10.

Here's a list of all West Midlands universities involved:

Aston University

The University of Birmingham

Coventry University

Harper Adams University

Keele University

Staffordshire University

University College Birmingham

University of Warwick

University of Wolverhampton

University of Worcester