Tens of thousands of university staff begin strike across UK

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Tens of thousands of university staff on Monday began a 3-day strike action spanning 150 universities across the UK.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) decided to walkout over pay dispute. The union confirmed last week that university employers made offers in disputes over pay, working conditions and pensions.

However, the strike decision comes after the union's higher education committee voted to continue action, and not to put the latest proposals from employers to a vote among its members.

"This breakthrough is down to the strength, determination and sacrifice of university workers who have stood on picket lines," the UCU general secretary Jo Grady said last week.

University staff were on strike on Thursday and Friday last week.

On Friday, Raj Jethwa, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) said that the UCU members are tired of strike action.

"That is why students and staff across the UK’s higher education sector will be deeply disappointed that UCU’s Higher Education Committee has decided to proceed with next week’s attempted strike action," he said in a statement.