UWE staff strike for first time in nine years

Staff from UWE Bristol have gone on strike for the first time in nine years over pay and working conditions.

UWE staff joined 70,000 staff at 150 universities across the UK who are beginning three days of strike action beginning Thursday.

The strike is the biggest in the history of higher education and the University and College Union (UCU) says it is predicting historic turnout on its picket lines after an overwhelming mandate in favour of strike action in two historic national ballots over attacks on pay and working conditions as well as pension cuts.

UNISON UWE branch secretary Christian Scott told Bristol24/7: “Higher education staff haven’t had a pay rise that has matched inflation in 12 years.”

UCU members of staff at the East Gate of Frenchay Campus, one of six official picket lines at UWE Bristol

The University and Colleges Employers Association has offered staff a three per cent pay offer, but Chris said this isn’t good enough as it does not match the rate of inflation, which has risen by 10 per cent.

“Staff have accepted we have been through austerity but for the first time we asked our members to consider themselves first,” said Chris.

Chris also told Bristol24/7 that UWE had sent emails to staff a few weeks ago informing them that they would be carrying out a £600m renovation of the Frenchay Campus. They also told staff that they had introduced hydration stations, showers and warm spaces. But Christian said these are nothing new.

“It’s all been repackaged in ‘we understand you’. But we’ve always had these things.”

Finn Mackay and Anne Foley are both lecturers at UWE Bristol, joining the university in 2014 when Finn started on a zero-hour contract.

“We’re exhausted, we’re overworked, our working conditions are our student’s learning conditions,” said Anne.

“The campus is growing and growing and there are lots of shiny billboards but you need engaged staff in the buildings to work with them.”

Another lecturer, who works in the creative industries, but asked not to be named, told Bristol24/7 the strike “is a last resort”.

Finn Mackay (left) and Anne Foley (right) are both lecturers at UWE Bristol. Anne’s sign read: “Despite everything we are still here” in Welsh

“The VC [vice chancellor] champions himself on mental health but our staff are burned out. There is no consideration of the staff.”

“This is a last resort. We want to teach. I want to be doing my research and I want to be teaching my students.”

Bristol24/7 has been unable to retrieve data on UWE’s vice chancellor Steve West’s salary for the 2021/2022 financial year. However in 2015/2016, the Bristol Post reported that West’s yearly salary was £315,000.

The UCU also reported that the UK university sector as a whole generated record income of £41.1b last year with the 150 vice-chancellors facing action collectively earning an estimated £45m. UCU said the sector can more than afford to meet staff demands.

Staff demands include a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis as well as action to end the use of insecure contracts and deal with dangerously high workloads.

UCU is also demanding employers revoke the cuts to pensions and restore benefits. They say the package of cuts made earlier this year will see the average member lose 35 per cent from their guaranteed future retirement income.

The National Union of Students has also backed the strike action, which could see over 2.5m students impacted.

In a statement on their website, UWE said: “We are disappointed that this industrial action is taking place and we regret the potential disruption this will cause, but we respect the right of our colleagues to undertake this action.

“We are working hard to mitigate any potential disruption for our students and staff across these three days.

“UWE Bristol will continue to work with UCU, Unison and other unions to support students and staff.”

All photos: Mia Vines Booth

Read more:

• Hospital bosses prepare for waves of strikes
• Bristol uni could rename buildings with links to slave trade
• ‘The primary goal of this campaign is to make ourselves heard’
• Journalists in Bristol go on strike in pay dispute

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