Strike Dates Cancelled

Courtesy of the University and College Union

Following several weeks of negotiations, the UCU announced on Friday that seven strike dates set for the next two weeks have been called off as the union and universities have arrived at an “impasse”.

UCU’s general secretary Jo Grady announced: “To allow our ongoing negotiations to continue in a constructive environment, we have agreed to pause action across our pay and working conditions and pensions disputes for the next two weeks and create a period of calm.”

The UCU had initially planned 18 strike dates throughout February and March, but the ones set for 21-23 and 27 February-2 March have now been cancelled. Further strikes on 16-17 March and 20-22 March have yet to be adjusted.  

The cancellation comes as a result of “significant progress in negotiations”. A previously unaccepted compromise pay rise offer has been “remodelled” to better benefit the lowest-paid university members, such as cleaning staff, and agreements to restore pensions and eliminate zero-hour contracts are expected to be reached soon.

Unison’s head of education commented: “The fact that talks are to continue is a positive move. It’s vital that progress is made in improving the wages of everyone working in higher education.”

On Friday, the education sector’s pension fund published a report indicating that restoring pensions could be more economically viable than previously thought, highlighting the potential that benefits could return to their pre-cuts levels, but this remains to be confirmed.

The cancellation of the strike has not been universally appreciated, with some UCU leaders emphasising the need for hardline persistence, but Grady, resolute that “this progress is for real”,  stated that “employers know we will not walk away from this dispute until it is won.”