Equality: Strike while staff are ‘pushed to breaking point’

Unite the Union staff working for the University and College Union (UCU) have today announced they will take continuous strike action in an escalation of industrial action.

Around 200 members will indefinitely strike from 2 September if their employer doesn’t resolve their dispute over workplace racism, repeated breaches of their collective agreements, and broken industrial relations. Staff have significant and continuing issues with racism. Despite acknowledging the need to address racism within the institution, UCU still refuses to withdraw dismissal-related procedures against black staff.

Unite UCU members are currently taking action short of a strike in the form of an overtime ban and work to rule consisting of members strictly adhering to their contracts of emp­loyment, job descriptions, working hours, shift start and finish times and break times.

Unite regional officer Rose Keeping said: “Industrial action on this scale is a last resort but our members have been pushed to breaking point by our employer’s failure to meaningfully negotiate on the serious issues in dispute.

“The employer needs to get round the table and commit to finding a fair settlement to our dispute and to creating the safe, professional and anti-racist workplace that our members need.”