Omg, next week’s strikes have been called off at 89 universities in the UK

University strikes have been called off by the University College Union (UCU) at 89 universities next week.

145 UK universities were set to strike next week from Monday 25th to Friday 29th of September, coinciding with the start of term at many universities.

University staff were striking due to a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions. The strike has been called off to allow UCU members to vote in UCU’s national ballot which opened this week. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said calling off strike action “will also allow our members to concentrate on winning the reballot and getting the pay and conditions they deserve.”

Strikes will still go ahead at 42 universities in the UK. UCU said the strikes “will now be targeted at the very worst employers.”

The marking boycott was also recently called off. Many universities to the boycott by deducting staff pay up to 100 per cent. Deals have now been made between universities and local UCU branches to end these deductions at the University of Aberdeen, the University of Bristol, the University of Bath, Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Stirling and the University of Sussex.

UCU is calling on other universities to follow their lead and said halting strike action will also allow branches to focus on getting the vote out in the national ballot that opened this week.

Which universities have strikes been called off at?

Aberdeen, University of
Abertay University
Aberystwyth University
Anglia Ruskin University
Arts University Bournemouth
Aston University
Bangor University
Bath, University of
Bath Spa University
Bedfordshire, University of
Birmingham, University of
Birmingham Newman University
Bishop Grosseteste University
Bolton, University of
Bradford, University of
Bristol, University of
Cambridge, University of
Canterbury Christ Church University
Cardiff University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Central Lancashire, University of
Chester, University of

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Chichester, University of
City, University of London
Courtauld Institute of Art
Coventry University
Cumbria University
De Montford University
Derby, University of
Edinburgh Napier University
Essex, University of
Exeter, University of
Falmouth University
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow Caledonian University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Hertfordshire, University of
Huddersfield, University of
Hull, University of
Kent, University of
King’s College London
Lancaster, University of
Leeds Beckett University
Leeds Trinity University
Leicester, University of
Lincoln, University of
Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts
Liverpool Hope University
Loughborough University
London School of Economics
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Manchester Metropolitan University
Middlesex University
Northampton, University of
Northumbria University
Norwich University of the Arts
Nottingham, University of
Portsmouth, University of
Roehampton University
Rose Bruford College
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Senate House, University of London
Sheffield Hallam University
SOAS, University of London
Solent University
Southampton University
St Andrews, University of
St George’s, University of London
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Stirling, University of
Suffolk, University of
Sunderland, University of
Surrey, University of
Swansea University
Teesside, University of
University College London
University of East London
West London, University of
West of Scotland, University of the
Wales Trinity Saint David, University of
Warwick, University of
Winchester, University of
Wolverhampton, University of
Worcester, University of
Wrexham Glyndwr University
York, University of
York St John University

Which universities are still striking?

Here is a list of the universities where staff will still be striking for the full five days next week:

1. Birkbeck, University of London 
2. Bournemouth University  
3. Brighton, University of 
4. Brunel University  
5. Buckinghamshire New University  
6. Dundee, University of 
7. Edge Hill University  
8. Edinburgh, University of 
9. Greenwich, University of 
10. Harper Adams University  
11. Heriot-Watt University  
12. Keele University 
13. Kingston University  
14. Leeds, University of 
15. Liverpool, University of 
16. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 
17. Liverpool John Moores University  
18. London South Bank University  
19. Manchester, University of 
20. Newcastle University 
21. Open University  
22. Oxford, University of 
23. Plymouth Marjon University  
24. Queen Margaret University  
25. Queen Mary, University of London 
26. Royal Academy of Music  
27. Royal Agricultural University  
28. Royal College of Art  
29. Royal College of Music  
30. Royal Holloway, University of London 
31. Salford, University of 
32. Sheffield, University of 
33. South Wales, University of 
34. Stranmillis University College  
35. St Mary’s University College Belfast 
36. Strathclyde, University of  
37. Sussex, University of – see note 4  
38. Ulster University 
39. University College Birmingham  
40. University for the Creative Arts  
41. University of the Arts London 
42. Writtle University College   

Strikes will go ahead for at least one days at these universities:

University of West England – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
Plymouth University – Striking on Monday 25 September
Westminster University – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
Oxford Brookes University – Striking on Wednesday 27 September
London Met – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
Trinity LABAN – Striking on Thursday 28 September
Glasgow, University of – Striking on Wednesday 27 September
Durham, University of – Striking on Tuesday 26 September
Robert Gordon University – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
Gloucester University – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We have seen many employers do the right thing and agree to stop punitive pay deductions and some have also agreed to return what has been taken. We are now urging other vice-chancellors to follow their lead and are calling off strike action at dozens of universities. This will also allow our members to concentrate on winning the reballot and getting the pay and conditions they deserve. 

“Renewing our mandate and keeping the pressure on is the way we will win this dispute, but the strike action due to go ahead next week stands as a reminder to all employers that if you behave egregiously, you will face further disruption.” 

Featured image via AIZAT K/Shutterstock. 

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