University strikes continue across the East of England

Uni staff are among the latest to walk out as a number of industrial disputes continue

Published 20th Mar 2023

Higher education staff, including those in Norfolk and Suffolk, are going on strike for the fifth time in seven weeks in their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

Staff at the UEA, NUA and the University of Suffolk are taking action, with the University and College Union (UCU) warning the "clock is ticking" for bosses to come up with a serious offer to put to members.

Staff are picketing at 150 universities across the UK - while students up and down the country are having classes cancelled.

Government minister Oliver Dowden wants to see negotiations improve: "I'd hope we can get to a situation where we have a decent pay deal for public sector workers, but one that respects our public finances and the pressure on inflation."

NUS vice-president for higher education Chloe Field said: "The vice-chancellors in charge of our universities would rather see students face disruption on a scale we have never seen before than pay staff what they are worth.

"Every day of teaching we lose is completely the fault of vice-chancellors who refuse to pay their staff properly."

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