Workers at the University of Lincoln are taking strike action today over pay and conditions
Seventy thousand members from the University and College Union will be walking out at 150 institutes around the UK
Last updated 24th Nov 2022
University workers, including some at the University of Lincoln, are walking out today - with over 70,000 staff from 150 institutes taking part in the industrial action.
It's being called the biggest ever University strike with historic levels of people joining picket lines.
Owen Clayton is the Lincoln Branch Chair of the University and College Union; he says it's an inspiring moment:
"This is going to be a historic turn out for UCU. We got a historic ballot result which was really impressive, and I think with the first education union to actually manage to do that, and get over the government thresholds, which is since the trade union laws came in in 2016. So that's really exciting. So yeah, I mean we are expecting historic numbers to turn out. I was actually just talking to our branch administrator, and we've increased our membership, at the branch, by about an eighth, since the start of term. So yeah, we are clearly growing and so it should be really exciting day with it with a big turnout.
The strikes are taking place today on the 24th of November, and on the 25th. With a rally taking place in London on the 30th of November. Picket lines will be seen at each University taking part, including Lincoln's, where they can be found around the Brayford Campus.
Owen continued to say, that it will cause disruption, but that disruption can be limited:
"So, there will obviously be disruption on the 24th, 25th, 30th with those there will be missed classes, but the danger if the employers don't get around the table with us, is that there will be significantly more disruption next semester, from February onwards. So, you could see- and I don't want this to happen- but you will see significantly more strike days and much, much longer, more extended and potentially a marking an assessment boycott ultimately in the summer- which we don't want to do, and it's kind of the nuclear option. But it's definitely an option on the table, if the employers don't come around the table."
The strikes come after UCU members overwhelmingly voted 'yes' to industrial action last month, in two historic national ballots over attacks on pay and working conditions as well as pension cuts, which only some Universities are striking on.
The results are the first ever successful nationally aggregated ballots in the education sector since the Tories introduced anti-trade union laws in 2016. Despite the results, vice-chancellors have not made any improved offers.
Depending on the length of time this strike action continues, there could be over 2.5 million students across the country affected.
Owen said that students should be behind this, as they shouldn't want to be "taught by stressed and depressed lecturers."
The University of Lincoln are striking on meaningful pay and conditions.
The UCU have detailed those by a pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, as well as action to end the use of insecure contracts and deal with dangerously high workloads. Employers imposed a pay rise worth just 3% this year following over a decade of below inflation pay awards. On average University staff do two days additional work unpaid per week, whilst a third of academic staff are on some form of temporary contract.