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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| University staff to strike over pay and pensions | University staff to strike over pay and pensions |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| Some students have supported university staff in their previous strikes over pay and pensions | Some students have supported university staff in their previous strikes over pay and pensions |
| University lecturers, librarians and admin staff across the UK will strike over pay and pensions, the University and College Union has announced. | University lecturers, librarians and admin staff across the UK will strike over pay and pensions, the University and College Union has announced. |
| A total of 70,000 UCU members at 150 universities were asked to vote in two separate ballots - one on pay and working conditions, and another on pensions. | A total of 70,000 UCU members at 150 universities were asked to vote in two separate ballots - one on pay and working conditions, and another on pensions. |
| Strike dates are yet to be decided. | Strike dates are yet to be decided. |
| University employers say a pay rise would put jobs at risk in what they say are "very difficult" financial times. | |
| Students - some of whom have supported previous strike action by university staff - could face lectures being cancelled or rearranged. | Students - some of whom have supported previous strike action by university staff - could face lectures being cancelled or rearranged. |
| The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which represents university employers across the UK, proposed a 3% pay increase for staff this academic year, with 9% for those on the lowest pay grades. | The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which represents university employers across the UK, proposed a 3% pay increase for staff this academic year, with 9% for those on the lowest pay grades. |
| But UCU members want a pay rise to take the rising cost of living into account - much like unions in other sectors that have pushed for strike action in recent months. | But UCU members want a pay rise to take the rising cost of living into account - much like unions in other sectors that have pushed for strike action in recent months. |
| Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - is close to 10%, the highest level for 40 years. That means workers' living costs are rising faster than their wages, leaving them worse off. | Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - is close to 10%, the highest level for 40 years. That means workers' living costs are rising faster than their wages, leaving them worse off. |
| Why is everyone going on strike? | Why is everyone going on strike? |
| 'I back the strikes but could they disrupt my degree?' | 'I back the strikes but could they disrupt my degree?' |
| In the pay-and-working-conditions dispute, the UCU wants staff to get a 12% pay rise, or Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 2%. It also wants to address "dangerously high workloads" and scrap "insecure work practices", such as zero-hours contracts. | In the pay-and-working-conditions dispute, the UCU wants staff to get a 12% pay rise, or Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 2%. It also wants to address "dangerously high workloads" and scrap "insecure work practices", such as zero-hours contracts. |
| Members at 147 universities were asked to vote in this ballot. There was a 57.8% turnout and 81.1% of those voted for strike action. | Members at 147 universities were asked to vote in this ballot. There was a 57.8% turnout and 81.1% of those voted for strike action. |
| UCEA chief executive Raj Jethwa said the results were "disappointing", adding that there must be a "realistic assessment of what is possible" in "very difficult" financial circumstances. | |
| "[Higher Education] institutions want to do more for their valuable staff, but any increase in pay puts jobs at risk," he said. | |
| "If UCU is genuinely interested in discussing the challenges facing the sector, UCEA is willing to work with them, but attempts to try and take more industrial action may simply hurt some students and staff for no realistic outcome." | |
| In the separate pensions ballot, members at 67 universities were asked to vote. Turnout was 60.2% and 84.9% voted for strike action. | In the separate pensions ballot, members at 67 universities were asked to vote. Turnout was 60.2% and 84.9% voted for strike action. |
| The pensions dispute has been rumbling on for more than a decade but was reignited in the past couple of years by a valuation of a pension scheme used by academic staff. | |
| The UCU says the valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is flawed and could lower members' guaranteed retirement income by 35%. | |
| But a UUK spokesperson, speaking on behalf of USS employers, said contributions to USS pensions were already "among the highest in the country and at the very limit of affordability". | |
| UUK, an organisation representing 140 institutions, added that universities would put measures in place to try to reduce the impact of any strikes on students and other staff members. | |
| 'Standstill' threat | |
| This is the first time a ballot by any education union has passed the legal threshold of 50% turnout across the country - enabling it to call a national strike - rather than in individual universities, which would have allowed only staff in those institutions to strike. | This is the first time a ballot by any education union has passed the legal threshold of 50% turnout across the country - enabling it to call a national strike - rather than in individual universities, which would have allowed only staff in those institutions to strike. |
| "Today, history has been made," said UCU general secretary Jo Grady. | "Today, history has been made," said UCU general secretary Jo Grady. |
| She said the "stunning" results showed university workers were "ready and willing to bring the entire sector to a standstill if serious negotiations don't start very soon". | She said the "stunning" results showed university workers were "ready and willing to bring the entire sector to a standstill if serious negotiations don't start very soon". |
| "University staff are crucial workers in communities up and down the UK. They are sending a clear message that they will not accept falling pay, insecure employment and attacks on pensions," she added. | "University staff are crucial workers in communities up and down the UK. They are sending a clear message that they will not accept falling pay, insecure employment and attacks on pensions," she added. |