Staff at the University of Cumbria are set to go on strike from next month over pay and conditions.
Members of the University and College Union plan to take industrial action over the next two months and have announced dates that will affect 150 universities in the UK.
Strike action is due to take place:
- Wednesday February 1
- Thursday February 9
- Friday February 10
- Tuesday February 14
- Wednesday February 15
- Thursday February 16
- Tuesday February 21
- Wednesday February 22
- Thursday February 23
- Monday February 27
- Tuesday February 28
- Wednesday March 1
- Thursday March 2
- Thursday March 16
- Friday March 17
- Monday March 20
- Tuesday March 21
- Wednesday March 22
The union said if action goes ahead it would be the biggest series of strikes ever to hit UK university campuses.
Union officials will meet with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association this week. It said it needed employers to substantially improve on the pay offer of four per cent to five per cent to avoid disruption.
The union will also be reballoting its 70,000 members at the 150 universities in dispute to extend the union’s mandate and allow staff to take further action through the rest of the academic year. The reballot campaign will be launched this week.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “There is a clear route out of these disputes, but at present vice-chancellors lack the political will to take it. They are failing staff who want to get back to work, and students who want to get on with their studies.
