WARRINGTON university staff will strike this month in a dispute over better and working conditions.

As students settle back in for their next year of academic study, tutors from universities all over the country including the University of Chester, which has bases in Warrington town centre, will begin striking - just two weeks into the start of term.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will strike for five consecutive days from September 25 to 29 at 140 universities around the UK.

The dispute surrounds low pay and working conditions.

Employer body, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has imposed a pay award for the year 2023/24 worth just five per cent for most UCU members, even though they overwhelmingly voted to reject it.

General secretary Jo Grady said: “We are left with no option but to strike during the start of term because our members refuse to stand by while pay is eroded and staff are shunted onto gig-economy contracts.

“It is shameful that vice-chancellors still refuse to settle the dispute despite a year of unprecedented disruption and have instead imposed a pay award that staff overwhelmingly rejected.”

Employer body, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has imposed a pay award for the year 2023/24 worth just five per cent for most UCU members, even though they overwhelmingly voted to reject it.

A spokesperson from Chester University said the majority of teaching will ‘proceed as normal’ during the strikes.

“We understand that nationally the University and College Union (UCU) has announced plans for strike action in late September (Monday September 25 to Friday September 29, 2023).

“The University will continue to remain open throughout any strike action and the vast majority of teaching and learning will proceed as normal for students.

“The UCU has provided notification that it has ceased its marking and assessment boycott.”

The unions recent analysis of universities shows the sector generated more money than ever last year while the proportion going to staff fell to a record low.   

Members are also demanding action on gig-economy employment practices and high workloads.

It will also begin re-balloting universities shortly and this will allow it to escalate the dispute by taking further action this year and into 2024.

Staff are continuing other forms of industrial action, including working to rule, not undertaking any voluntary activities, and not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action. 

Jo Grady added: “Universities are richer than ever, generating tens of billions of pounds in income and hoarding billions more in cash deposits.

“But they won’t give staff their fair share, a pay award of five per cent is huge real terms pay cut and is substantially lower than schoolteachers received.  

“We have sought to settle this dispute at every opportunity, including agreeing to a joint review of sector finances, but we are faced with employers that want to see staff and students suffer.

“We desperately hope vice-chancellors realise we are going nowhere without a fair settlement and make us a realistic offer. If they do not, campuses will be marred by picket lines during fresher’s week, and we will launch a new strike ballot allowing us to take action well into 2024.”