UK universities face more strikes unless employers resume talks, union warns | Universities

Universities across the UK will face another round of strikes next month unless employers agree to return to the negotiating table, the University and College Union has warned.

A marking boycott that has left tens of thousands of students without their degree result this summer will continue, the union said, while preparations will get under way for a new strike ballot to renew the union’s mandate.

If successful, the UCU’s long-running and increasingly acrimonious dispute over pay and conditions will continue to affect campuses well into 2024, with no end in sight to the stalemate after talks with employers broke down.

The UCU announcement on Monday evening came after a meeting of senior officials to decide next steps in the dispute. Previously, higher education minister Robert Halfon wrote to both sides, urging them to resume negotiations to bring an end to the boycott and further industrial action.

Announcing the latest action, UCU’s general secretary, Jo Grady, said: “Our higher education committee today agreed to hit universities with multiple days of strike action at the start of the coming academic year if vice-chancellors refuse to return to negotiations.

“We will not be bullied into accepting gig economy universities, nor will we accept employers imposing punitive pay deductions. While we have agreed to requests for a joint review of sector finances, employers have made no attempt to compromise on the key issues.”

The union said it would confirm the number of days and dates of strike action at a later date. The marking boycott, meanwhile, which has affected students at 145 universities since it first began in April, will go on.

UCU members have refused to mark final exams, dissertations and coursework as part of their dispute, and many have suffered pay cuts as a result.

Universities have issued provisional results or certificates to allow students to graduate on time, and affected students have been told their degree class will be issued when assessments are completed in several months.

Members of the union voted to reject a pay offer for 2023-24 worth between 5% and 8%. “The UK higher education sector presents itself as a world leader, but it is riddled with casualisation, insecurity and low pay – our members have no choice but to stand up for themselves,” Grady said.

“Therefore, the marking boycott will continue, we will call more strike action in September and we will now begin plans to reballot university staff so we can take further action in the coming academic year.”

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), said it was extremely disappointing. “UCU must be honest with its members about the fact that there is no possibility of a further pay uplift in the 2023-24 pay round and that these aspects of the talks are complete.

“However, UCEA awaits a formal response from UCU and all the unions to our proposal last week for an independent review of sector finances, followed by further talks on the important pay-related matters raised by the UCU and the unions.”