University strike causes wide-spread disruption
The University of Exeter alongside other UK universities will face widespread disruption today in a co-ordinated strike action by the UCU, UNISON and Unite trade Unions.
Classes have been cancelled as staff have said they will walk out in protest of pay condition.
Unions have argued that despite an increase in University income and many institutions building up large cash reserves staff pay has fallen in by 13% in real terms since 2008.
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.'
So far employers have not engaged unions in negotiations despite a turnout expected in the strike."
With the maximum amount universities can charge for tuition fees being raised to £9,000 per year's teaching, the cost to Students is more apparent than ever.
Hannah Barton, University of Exeter Students’ Guild President, said: “The Students’ Guild will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact of the strikes on students; working to ensure the University puts arrangements in place to maintain timetabled contact hours and keep services on campus open.
“As well as the issue at hand, it would be remiss of us not to keep an eye on the offering to future generations of students. Happy and properly paid staff are a vital part of Exeter’s continued growth and improvement and therefore I continue to urge the University and the Unions to meet again at the earliest opportunity to end this impasse.”
University of Exeter will remain open tomorrow but at a reduced level due to around a quarter of the University’s staff belonging to one of the Unions on strike tomorrow.
A spokesman for the university said: “The University places great value on providing a high quality student experience and will seek to ensure that the minimum disruption is caused to students and others by this industrial action. We will be working with the campus trade unions to ensure that any picketing does not disrupt individuals coming to our campuses.
“In common with other employers during strikes, the University will withhold pay from any member of staff who participates in strike action. As we have done during previous disputes, the University will donate the monies withheld to the student hardship fund. We very much hope that the on-going national negotiations will result in a quick resolution to the dispute.
“The dispute is primarily over pay. Exeter is part of a national pay bargaining agreement which made an offer of a one per cent rise to staff this year. This was rejected by UCU, Unison and Unite, the three trade unions recognised by the University of Exeter. As a result they called a one day strike on the 31 October”
