Bristol University staff set to strike over pension cuts and ‘unfair working conditions’

Staff at Bristol University are resorting to strike action to fight back against pension cuts and “unfair working conditions”.

Those joining the picket line from 8am on Wednesday are angry at what they say is their employer’s failure to address ongoing issues, with unions warning of further walkouts in the new year if ongoing disputes are not resolved.

Members of Bristol University and Colleges Union (UCU) will take part in the three days of strike action, along with staff from more than 50 universities across the country.

The strikes are part of an ongoing dispute between UCU and university employers trying to cut staff pensions – a move the union says leaves people at risk of hardship later in life and threatens the sector’s ability to attract the best staff.

Bristol University has said it respects the rights of staff to strike and has worked with the UCU and other trade unions to make things better for staff, adding that university bosses are open to continuing the conversation and being proactive in addressing concerns.

Strikers are also calling for:

• Fairer working conditions for staff
• An end to the “ubiquitous use of precarious short-term contracts” for teaching staff
• Pay equality for women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff
• An end to “falling real-terms wages and unmanageable workloads”

University of Bristol UCU branch president Dr Jamie Melrose said: “Strike action is a last resort, but universities’ collective refusal to address these issues has meant UCU members at Bristol and across the UK are prepared to take strike action to get employers to come back to the negotiating table.

“We deeply regret that employers have not fundamentally budged from their position in the negotiations. In the face of savage cuts to staff pensions, for example, decried as completely unnecessary by pensions experts, we are fighting back.

“We must stand up, too, against ridiculous workloads of 70 hours per week plus, the ingrained use of short-term, highly exploitable contracts, and gender and BAME pay inequality at every pay grade. Throughout it all our employers’ response is indifference and inaction.”

The union says that during the pandemic – when face-to-face teaching was suspended – staff were asked to work long extra hours. As well as providing online lectures and teaching sessions, lecturers were recording additional material for students who mission online sessions, covering staff who were on sick leave and supporting students through the challenges of the pandemic, with no additional pay.

Students supporting a previous strike by Bristol University staff – photo courtesy of Bristol University University and Colleges Union

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “Industrial action is part of a complex national dispute. These are important issues and we respect the right of our staff to strike, which we know was not an easy decision to make.

“As a university, we have worked collaboratively with our staff and the local UCU branch to put our collective views forward and have argued for higher employer contributions to help ensure the USS Pension scheme is sustainable in the future.

“It goes without saying that our priority as a university is providing teaching and learning for our students, many of whom have already faced severe disruption due to the pandemic. We’re well-prepared to mitigate the impact of industrial action and will be doing all that we can to keep any impact on our students to a minimum in the coming weeks.

“With reference to the annual pay award, the university is part of a national bargaining arrangement, and we have to act in accordance with the scheme and the positions of other members.

“As a university, we are proud of the way that we have worked with the local branch of UCU and the other trade unions to make things better for staff. We are open to continuing the conversation and being proactive in addressing their concerns.”

The university has published information and policies on its gender pay gap and workload and casual contracts.

Main photo courtesy of Bristol University University and Colleges Union

Read more: ‘Nobody likes going on strike’

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