Oxford Brookes staff to strike for 18 days before Easter, beginning in just two weeks time

Staff and lecturers at Oxford Brookes University are set to go on strike for 18 days this term with the industrial action beginning in just two weeks time.

Last week the University and College Union (UCU) announced that 70,000 staff at 150 UK universities would be striking for 18 days in February and March.

It was confirmed that staff at Oxford Brookes University would take part in the strike action in an ongoing campaign for better pay and pensions, among other things.

Now, the union has announced the strikes will begin on Wednesday, 1st February with the dates for the further 17 days of strikes to be announced next week.

This date coincides with the TUC’s “protect the right to strike” day, a protest against the Conservative government’s plans to introduce strict anti-strike measures through parliament. Five unions, including UCU, NEU, ASLEF, PCS and RMT, have already confirmed they will be join this day of action.

These 18 days of upcming strikes will make a total of 21 days of industrial action so far this academic year after staff went on strike for three days before Christmas. To put that into perspective, academic year 21-22 experienced 18 days of strike in total action for the entire year. A Tab investigation this summer found Russell Group unis saved £11million in withheld pay whilst lecturers were on strike last university year.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Whilst the cost-of-living crisis rages, university vice-chancellors are dragging their feet and refusing to use the vast wealth in the sector to address over a decade of falling pay, rampant casualisation and massive pension cuts.

“On 1 February, 70,000 university staff will walk out alongside fellow trade unions and hundreds of thousands of other workers to demand their fair share.

“UCU remains committed to reaching a negotiated settlement, but if university employers don’t get serious and fast, more strike action fill follow in February and March.”

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