Uni Threatened By Lecturer Strikes

Sheffield lecturers voted to strike over pay last week.

Demanding an increase in wages, almost two-thirds of UCU union members have voted for strike action, with more unions following their lead.

UCU is the largest further education union in the country, meaning that strike action could see major disturbance to universities across the UK.

Striking fear into students’ hearts

The results of the national ballot showed that 61.5% of voters backed strike action and 77% backed action short of a strike.

As of 2010, almost 3,000 members of staff at the University of Sheffield were members of UCU, meaning that it could cause severe disruption to Sheffield students.

The union, however, sees this action as necessary, claiming that wages have decreased by 13% in real terms over the past few years, rejecting the 1% pay rise offered by University bosses. They also added that they have a “credible plan for escalating action using strikes and actions short of strikes operating together”.

This news has triggered a strong reaction from some students. Second year Economics student, Jake feels that “as students we don’t pay £9000 a year to have our lectures and teaching time disrupted”.

IC Trouble Brewing

Zoe, a second year psychology student, disagrees with this, stating that “we should get the best education possible, and if that means increasing pay, so be it”.

Meanwhile, fellow further education unions, Unison and Unite have also voted in favour of strikes, causing this potential action to be more widespread than first thought.