Support The UCU Strike

Today is the first of 18 days of strike action by the University and College Union (UCU). The strike follows the rejection of two pay offers well below the rate of inflation. Staff pay in UK universities has fallen by an average of 25% since 2010, and staff retirement income was cut by an average of 35% in 2022. In addition to demands on pay and pensions, UCU is also striking over workloads, casualisation of the university sector, and gender, race, and disability pay gaps.

Speaking before the strike, People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll blamed university bosses for the closure of campuses.

“Campuses will be shut down thanks to the intransigence of university bosses, University management are destroying higher education by prioritising profits over student and staff welfare. They have cut pay, decimated pensions, and have become increasingly reliant on insecure contracts.

UCU members want to get on with the job of educating students but they have no choice but to intensify their strike action. Universities have had ample opportunity to avert this action by properly paying their staff and halting the attacks on their terms. Both Queen’s and Ulster University are raking in millions every year. Senior management should explain why they are keeping staff on picket lines during this cost-of-living crisis.”

People Before Profit are proud to stand with the UCU strikers.