Lecturers and Staff at UoN Join the UCU Strike

Lecturers and Staff at UoN Join the UCU Strikes

Lecturers and staff from the University of Nottingham (UoN) partook in three days of strikes at the end of November, following the 20 days of strike action last academic year.

As many students grow increasingly anxious about lost teaching time, the union urged students to support their decision to strike on the 24th, 25th, and 30th of November, stating that: “Staff working conditions are student learning conditions,” and their success will lead to “good learning conditions for students in future”. Those striking say they see little option due to the state of current staff working conditions and the refusal of the university management to negotiate, which they view as a “heavy-handed attack on our profession”.

Last academic year, many students were left frustrated and worried about looming exams and assessments due to strikes that took place across five weeks of the 2021/22. With the return of strikes, there were mixed opinions amongst students about whether to show support. While some students boycotted the Trent building in solidarity of staff members, others expressed impatience with the loss of learning. One student said, “I sympathise but it’s frustrating that the strikes have such an impact on my education.” Other students stated that the effects of the strikes have left them feeling “unmotivated”, making their assessments much more “challenging”.

The possibility of further strike action has left many feeling increasingly anxious as the Autumn exam season approaches. The University of Nottingham University Colleges Union (UCU) branch insisted that while they “fully understand the frustration about the repeated cancellations of classes, [the university’s management] leaves us with no alternative but to escalate our actions.”

The continued industrial action challenges issues of staff working conditions and involves more than 70,000 staff across the UK. One of which is the dramatic decline in staff pay by 25.5% since 2009, a trend that looks set to continue despite the rising workload. Staff pensions have also been threatened by suggested cuts of up to 35%. An increasing casualisation of staff threatens lecturers, with only a third now on fixed-term contracts. Some staff also face large pay gaps: women observe a pay gap of 20.3%, 11.7% for BAME staff, and 9% for disabled staff nationally.

When asked for comment, a UoN spokesperson said: “Although this is a national industrial dispute, the University of Nottingham is already acting locally to address many of the issues - much of which has been agreed with our UCU Branch.”

They detailed additional pay given to staff dependent on their levels, made possible by the University making “local payments of 3% on top of the nationally negotiated award of 3%.” They further added that “the pension scheme will undergo its next valuation in 2023 and, subject to consultation, [UoN] has committed to supporting the improvement of staff benefits or the reduction of contribution levels to the scheme.”

Support is available to students who face disruptions in the form of online resources and extended assessment deadlines.

By Esme Mckenzie