Five days of strike action at the University of the West of England

Support staff at the University of the West of England will take a further five days of strike action over “insulting” pay offer, says UNISON today (Friday).

Higher education workers, including student support, administration services, library services, IT and admissions will walk out for five days of consecutive action from Monday 4 to Friday 8 December.

University workers voted to reject a pay offer for 2023/24 worth between 5% and 8% but well below the rate of inflation at the time.

In a strike ballot that ended in July, the staff voted to take further strike action unless their employers returned to negotiations with a fair offer. Such offers have yet to be forthcoming.

University of the West of England staff last took action in September and October after renewing their mandate for action in August.

UNISON South West head of higher education Chris Roche said: “University staff have been left with no other choice but to take further strike action. Despite their tireless efforts to ensure students receive a high-quality education, they have faced years of declining real wages.

“Enough is enough​.​ ​University employees simply can’t afford to live on poverty wages or accept woeful, insulting pay offers. It’s time for university managers to make a fair offer that provides a living wage to all staff.”