Students are occupying Coates Auditorium in support of the strikes

Nottingham students are occupying Coates Auditorium in solidarity with the on going strikes.

The UCU announced in January that Lecturers and university staff at the University of Nottingham would be going on strike for 10 days in February.

The strikes began on Monday 14th February and scheduled to carry on until next Wednesday.

This is not the first time students have occupied university buildings, a group of students occupied the Engineering and Science Learning Centre in May last year demanding tuition fee and rent rebate.

A spokesperson for The University of Nottingham said: “We will livestream a small number of Law lectures over the next 24 hours to minimise the disruption caused to other students by protesters at the Coates Road auditorium. We are monitoring the situation to ensure the protest is conducted peacefully and safely.

 “Action is already being taken that would address some of the grievances expressed in the industrial action by UCU members. Pension scheme members have been consulted on proposals – backed up by £1.3 billion support from universities – to keep contributions affordable for members and retain defined benefits rarely seen in other schemes.

 “A significant proportion of our staff received pay increases this year of between 3.5% and 4.5%, we are already piloting a model to end the use of so-called casual contracts, and we are reducing our gender and ethnic pay gaps.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Featured image courtesy of Aidan Bodin.