The University and College Union confirm strike ballots will open next month
It's in an on-going row with employers over pensions, unsafe workloads and the uptick in short-term contracts, amongst other things.
The University and College Union have confirmed that strike ballots will open on 18 October.
This is due to an on-going rows with employers over pensions, unsafe workloads and the uptick in short-term contracts, amongst other things.
It's understood that staff from the University of East Anglia will be balloted on their USS pensions pay and working conditions.
Ben Monks, the UCU's support officer for East told us that, short-term contracts are at the heart of the issue.
"We have institutions across the country that are continuing to employ huge swathes of teachers on short-term contracts. Where is the future in that? How does that make anyone want to work in a University on a long-term basis? These things need to be resolved and cracked".
Mr Monks also told us that the issues lecturers are striking about, directly affects their ability to deliver quality teaching to students.
"Where staff are up against it, they are not going to be at their best. They are not going to be able to do a good job, if they are doing 70 hours a week, like many of our members are to do the job".
"That's not going to the best for our staff and its certainly not going to be the best for our students and their learning experience"
He also told that the UCU have been pushed towards striking by their employers.
"our employers have waved through a 35% cut in pensions, its a real kick in the teeth for our members that have helped prop up the sector during the pandemic".
"Our members have suffered a 20% pay cut over the course of the last ten years."
But he concluded by saying that these disputes are not just about "the money in our members pockets" but about "real long-term issues in the sector that have been on the table for years and years".
"Our employers have so far, point blank refused to come to any national agreement with UCU."