The YCL calls on all students across the UK to support the strike action called by UCU, UNISON and Unite for tomorrow 31st of October. On Thursday students should not attend lectures, tutorials or seminars etc. or use university library, or any other facilities, while the strike action is taking place.
Where possible attend the local joint union rallies taking place in support of the strike. Young Communists and all students place themselves firmly on the side of the workers striking for fair pay in higher education tomorrow. Unity is strength!
UCU Statement 29/10/13:
“Unions disappointed employers refused talks to try and avert Thursday’s walkout
UK universities will be hit with the most widespread disruption for years on Thursday as members of UCU, UNISON and Unite take their first coordinated strike action in a row over pay.
The unions said they were disappointed the employers had refused talks to try and divert Thursday’s walkout, but said they are still prepared to meet for eleventh hour talks. However, they also admitted they were not optimistic this would be achieved as the employers had so far refused to talk.
Staff will be on picket lines in towns and cities across the UK from early on Thursday morning, with many then making their way to local rallies in their area. All three unions said they expected there to be widespread support for the action. More details on regional activity can be found at on our web page which is being updated regularly.
Classes will be cancelled as staff walk out in protest at a pay offer of just 1%. Staff have faced a real-terms pay cut of 13% since 2008 – a situation Will Hutton recently described as one of the most sustained suppressions of pay since the Second World War.
Follow the hashtag #fairpayinHE on Twitter for updates.
UCU head of higher education, Michael MacNeil, said: ‘There is widespread anger over the pay cuts staff have had to endure in recent years and all the reports we are getting is that Thursday’s strike will be very well supported. We are amazed the employers are still refusing to sit down with us to try and resolve this without any need for disruption. There are precious few hours left now, but our offer of talks remains open.’
UNISON, head of higher education, Jon Richards, said: ‘We cannot understand the cavalier attitude of the University employers. They are sitting on record surpluses, splashing out on senior management pay but refusing to give a decent wage to the staff who have made UK universities some of the best in the world. The employers still have a chance to avert this strike and we ask them to reconsider and make a decent offer to avoid disruption to students.’
Unite national officer for education, Mike McCartney said: ‘Our members are taking this action with a heavy heart, but they have had to endure a five-year pay drought. Their contribution should be recognised with a substantial pay rise as household bills, such as energy, are going through the roof. We hope that the strike will focus employers’ minds and they realise their staff are their most important asset and reward them accordingly.
The last time there was strike action in universities over pay was in 2006 when members of the University and College Union walked out. This time their colleagues in Unite and Unison are also on strike.
The cumulative operating surplus in the higher education sector is now over £1 billion and many higher education institutions have built up cash reserves. Overall staff costs in higher education, as a proportion of income, have fallen from 58% in 2001/02, to 55.5% in 2011/12.”
