Staff at Bournemouth University have released a video explaining why they are joining nationwide strikes organised by UCU (University and College Union) from Monday 25th November to Wednesday 4th December.
This comes as the universities’ representatives ruled out talking about pay which has declined by almost 20% in real terms over the last decade. Strike action relates to long-running and unresolved disputes about pay, casualisation, workloads, inequality and USS pensions.
UCU have argued it is impossible not to talk about pay when other elements of that dispute were so clearly linked to it. The union have said if universities met UCU’s carefully weighted pay claim that would help alleviate pay inequality, as there are disproportionate women and black and minority ethnic staff on lower pay.
Staff at Bournemouth University did not take the decision to strike lightly. Alongside the loss of pay during the period of the strike they care about the impact this will have on their students. But the strike sends a clear message to universities who have been on a spending spree on buildings and senior-management salaries that staff will not endure further erosion of their pay and conditions. Despite the disruption the National Union of Students is supporting this strike and have issued a joint declaration with UCU which can be found here.
UCU Bournemouth calls on BU’s VC John Vinney to press higher education employers to recognise the seriousness of the situation and agree to reopen negotiations. They also call on students to support the strike online with the hashtag #UCUStrikesBack and demonstrate solidarity by not crossing picket lines (but they are welcome to join the pickets). They could also write to the Vice Chancellor John Vinney @VCJohnVinney to raise concerns about the impact such disputes will have on their learning.
UCU Bournemouth University
