Strikes are back following 39% pay rise for fat cat VC.

Thousands of university staff are set to stage a series of further walkouts later this month disputing pay, with the first two-hour action being undertaken today, 23rd January.

The action comes as Uni of Sheffield Vice-Chancellor Kieth Burnett has been revealed to have taken a £105,000 pay rise last year – a massive 39% increase on 2011-12.

Striking fear into students’ hearts

This news has come after university employers rejected UCU’s offer of awarding a 1% pay rise to  teaching staff, despite the claim that wages have fallen 13% in real terms over the past 5 years.

Mr Burnett’s salary for 2012-13 stands at a cool £374,000. UCU state that they have been left with “little option but to escalate action”.

Ismar Badzic

The first series of two-hour stoppages have already been planned and are set to take place later this month. Walkouts have been set for 2pm on 28th January and 9am on 10th February, with the first having taken place at 11am today.

Due to the University’s new possession order taken out after the December strikes, it is unclear whether any student occupations will accompany this year’s strike action.

Faces like this could be a thing of the past. We’ll find out this week: photo Ismar Badzic

Today UCU released figures revealing that Sheffield Vice Chancellor, Sir Keith Burnett, received a whopping 39% pay rise.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, commented that VCs “need to explain to staff why they deserve to be paid so much more than the people doing the teaching, research, admin and many roles that keep our universities ticking over.”

The dates for further action are yet to be announced.

So how do students feel about more strikes? Second year orthoptics student, Laura, admits; “I respect the idea of striking but it’s a shame the students are affected so greatly”- a view shared by many other students.

Striking leaves plenty of time to enjoy a John’s Van: Photo Ismar Badzic

Whatever the case, action is likely to continue, threatening even more disruption to students across the UK.