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Lancaster University staff begin more strike action

Some staff at Lancaster University are undertaking more strike action this week in an ongoing row over pay, pensions and working conditions.

The University and Colleges Union (UCU) announced five days of strike action, following a walk-out last month.

Not all staff are members of the union and not all members may choose to strike, so the impact of the strike is likely to vary in different parts of the University.

At Lancaster strikes are planned for three days (Wednesday 23 to Friday 25 March) and two days next week (Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 March).

Staff across the University are taking steps to make sure there is as little disruption for students as possible.

The UCU is in dispute with employers across the country over what they claim are unfair cuts to USS pensions, as well as little movement on pay, unsafe workloads, casualisation and equality failings.

They claim pay for university staff has fallen by around 20% between 2009 and 2019. Since then employers have made a series of below inflation offers, this despite university income from tuition fees growing by a third in the last five years alone.

In response, the University say that staff across the University are working to minimise disruption and ensure students are adequately supported, while they remain committed to achieving a fair and affordable outcome for staff, and to maintaining an open dialogue with campus trade unions.

The University will remain open throughout the period of the strike, and the aim is that student services will continue as normal, and planned activities and events will also take place.

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