This is Leicestershire -- Staff at Leicester, De Montfort, and Loughborough universities disrupted lectures again today in a row over pay. Members of the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), along with UNISON members are in dispute over a "miserly" one per cent pay rise at a time when they say management has seen huge increases. Members formed picket lines outside main entrances this morning in an effort to get their point across. Staff took two days strike action before Christmas and have been involved in rolling two hour strikes in the past few weeks. Christian Serdean, branch secretary for De Montfort University's UCU branch said: "We remain resolute in our view that staff deserve a better pay rise and will continue to put on pressure. "The next two hour strike will take place on Monday morning from 9am until 11am. At the university of Leicester, students were also out supporting staff. Students from a group entitled Defend Education Leicester, held banners and chanted support. Aaron Elcock, 21, who is studying history and politics there said: "We absolutely believe that our lecturers deserve a better pay rise. Especially when those higher up are getting far more than them and have seen their pay go up by more." A spokesman for DMU said: "Strike participation levels appear to be low and have continued to dwindle with a very small minority of our staff taking industrial action. All of our buildings opened as normal and the university continues to do all it can to keep the disruption to a minimum." A spokesperson from the University of Leicester said: "The industrial action is regrettable. "Pay increases comprise one per cent for all alongside often overlooked generous incremental increases and contribution pay. Institutions also meet significant pension costs in order to maintain the final salary schemes that many employees continue to enjoy. "Work around the gender pay gap, casual contracts and flexible working arrangements remains on the table." A spokeswoman for Loughborough University also said that disruption had been "minimal" and that the quality of the student experience remained of "paramount importance."
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.
This is Leicestershire -- Staff at Leicester, De Montfort, and Loughborough universities disrupted lectures again today in a row over pay. Members of the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), along with UNISON members are in dispute over a "miserly" one per cent pay rise at a time when they say management has seen huge increases. Members formed picket lines outside main entrances this morning in an effort to get their point across. Staff took two days strike action before Christmas and have been involved in rolling two hour strikes in the past few weeks. Christian Serdean, branch secretary for De Montfort University's UCU branch said: "We remain resolute in our view that staff deserve a better pay rise and will continue to put on pressure. "The next two hour strike will take place on Monday morning from 9am until 11am. At the university of Leicester, students were also out supporting staff. Students from a group entitled Defend Education Leicester, held banners and chanted support. Aaron Elcock, 21, who is studying history and politics there said: "We absolutely believe that our lecturers deserve a better pay rise. Especially when those higher up are getting far more than them and have seen their pay go up by more." A spokesman for DMU said: "Strike participation levels appear to be low and have continued to dwindle with a very small minority of our staff taking industrial action. All of our buildings opened as normal and the university continues to do all it can to keep the disruption to a minimum." A spokesperson from the University of Leicester said: "The industrial action is regrettable. "Pay increases comprise one per cent for all alongside often overlooked generous incremental increases and contribution pay. Institutions also meet significant pension costs in order to maintain the final salary schemes that many employees continue to enjoy. "Work around the gender pay gap, casual contracts and flexible working arrangements remains on the table." A spokeswoman for Loughborough University also said that disruption had been "minimal" and that the quality of the student experience remained of "paramount importance."
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.