UCU strike action paused due to “progress made” in negotiations

Megan Ballantyne

Editor

UCU strike action previously set to take place between Tuesday 21st February and Thursday 2nd March has been paused due to “progress made” in negotiations around pensions, pay and working conditions.

The UCU have stated that negotiations with Universities and Colleges Employers on pay and working conditions, and Universities UK on pensions, have been paused due to “significant progress on a range of issues.” have been confirmed yet, but the UCU state that in terms of pensions negotiations “we are at the start of a process that will restore USS pensions and potentially lead to a reduction in the percentage of your salary you pay into it every year.”

and “addressing equality pay gaps.”

The UCU state that the UCEA are also discussing with their members the recommendation that they give them a mandate to end the use of involuntary zero hour contracts on campus.

None of the negotiated measure

In pay and working conditions negotiations, the UCU state they are “establishing time limited negotiations for new agreements on “tackling casualisation,” improving work-life balance and reducing workloads,”

The lowest point on the pay scale is also set to be removed following negotiations around staff pay.

A University of Exeter spokesperson told Exeposé in regards to pensions, pay and working conditions disputes: “As a University, we remain committed to being a great employer and to providing everyone who works here with an affordable and sustainable pension scheme, as well as fair pay and working conditions.”

The University also stated: “While it is important to remember that these are national disputes affecting 150 institutions across the UK, the University is committed to working in partnership with UCU to effect positive changes for the working conditions of staff.”