Universities cost-of-living strike - UNISON announces dates at four institutions

6th September 2022

UNISON Scotland members at four Scottish universities are set to strike for five days in September and October, seriously disrupting freshers' week and the first weeks of teaching at a number of institutions.

UNISON members at Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Napier and Robert Gordon universities will take strike action on September 19th, 20th, 21st and October 3rd and 4th. With UNISON branches at other institutions set to either ballot or re-ballot over the same dispute, other Scottish sites may join the action later in the autumn. UNISON members at the University of Dundee will also strike for two weeks from September 19th in a bitter dispute concerning local pension provision.

Davena Rankin, Glasgow Caledonian UNISON branch secretary, said: "Strike action is never easy, least of all for low-paid university workers like cleaners, security officers and library assistants. With the sector's UK pay negotiating machinery imposing yet another disputed below-inflation award, UNISON members have been left with no choice but to fight back.

"We are proud of the strong mandates received at these four institutions, and the onus is on these employers and the sector to show they’ll act to protect hard-working staff from this cost of living crisis."

Lorcan Mullen, UNISON Scotland's head of higher and further education, said: "The pay inequalities in this largely publicly-funded sector are obscene, and that hurts low-paid staff all the more with living costs running so high. UCEA, the Scottish Government, individual universities and sector leaders have a moral responsibility to act with urgency and seriousness on the cost-of-living crisis in Scotland’s universities."