Staff are to strike at the University of Brighton over pay from 1 – 2 March 2022, says UNISON.
University staff will be marching from outside Brighton train station from midday on 1 March to The Level where a rally in support of striking workers will be held.
Staff at Brighton University have voted to strike over a pay offer of just 1.5%.
They will be joining colleagues taking industrial action over a range of issues, at Universities across the country including: Birkbeck, SOAS, City, King’s College London, Goldsmiths (all University of London), Trinity Laban, Edinburgh Napier University, Gloucestershire University, Leeds University and Queen Margaret University.
The University and College Union (UCU) is also staging a series of strikes at several universities over pay and pension issues over the coming days.
UNISON South East regional secretary Steve Torrance said: “Brighton University staff have had enough of real-term pay cuts. Over the past 12 years, the value of higher education pay has declined significantly.
“With so many workers facing a cost-of-living crisis this year, it is more urgent than ever that employers get back round the table to make a decent and fair offer.
“University staff have helped students during the pandemic, providing pastoral care, food, mental health support and so much more.
“Employees have also ensured IT systems allowed education to continue remotely and that vital research was uninterrupted. It’s time they received the pay rise so desperately needed and deserved.
“Many are planning to leave for better paid jobs in other parts of the economy. An above-inflation wage rise is needed to persuade valued staff to stay.
“UNISON is working closely with UCU to send a strong message to employers that they can’t continue to take staff for granted in delivering high quality higher education.”
Notes to editors:
- UNISON members will be available for comment and pictures at the march and rally on 1 March.
- on 2 March, UNISON members will participate with a national online rally from12.30pm at: Ye Olde King & Queen, 13-17 Marlborough Pl, Brighton BN1 1UB. Members will also be available here for comment and pictures.
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
