UNISON members at three Scottish universities say they will walk out on Monday and Tuesday, taking further action to protest against another imposed, below-inflation national pay award in the university sector.
The union also urges their employers, The Scottish Government and sector leaders to act to protect this workforce from the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
UNISON members at Edinburgh Napier University, Robert Gordon University and University of Glasgow, will be taking part in the strike action on 3 and 4 October. Union members at Glasgow Caledonian University have postponed their action for a second time in order to finalise negotiations and consult members on a local offer. The dispute there remains live until a deal is accepted by members, and further strike dates will be announced later.
The disputed, imposed Universities College and Colleges Administration (UCEA) offer is 3% for most university staff, with some bottom loading bringing the award up to 7.2% for the lowest paid. This is still well-below inflation and the union reminds everyone that it comes after many years of real-terms pay cuts.
Lorcan Mullen, UNISON Scotland’s head of higher education and further education, said: “The workers we represent are indispensable to a functioning university, and they’ve had enough of the massive pay and wealth inequalities on Scotland’s campuses.
“In recent weeks, union pressure has led to a range of offers and impositions of one-off payments from several Scottish universities to supplement the imposed, disputed national award. These developments clearly demonstrate the ability to pay better on a permanent basis, and undermine UCEA’s case for such a dismal series of pay awards.
“Our members are resolute in their fight to secure a fair pay settlement we are pleased to see more politicians and community allies expressing support for our campaign. UNISON will take up the offer of negotiations with any willing employers, but a lack of substantive progress will mean more strike dates this year.”
Pickets run outside the main entrance of the Merchiston campus on Monday and at Sighthill campus on Tuesday at Napier.
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