Staff at the University of Greenwich have walked out for the first time in 2020 today, joining a national 14-day strike over pay and pensions.
Workers from the University and College Union are holding strike action across the country in February and March, with over a million students at 74 universities, including Greenwich, being affected.
Staff in Greenwich were up early this morning armed with banners on a pikcet line at the Old Royal Naval College, and some even broke out into dance and song.
#UCU dancing for better pay and conditions at the University of Greenwich 🥳 pic.twitter.com/kqlSZX7NME
— Jane Speare (@JaneSpeare) February 25, 2020
The University today reassured students that the campus would remain open, and said it was hoping to run as many of the timetabled teaching sessions as possible.
University of Greenwich picket line! #UCUstrikesback pic.twitter.com/6hoJcTt3ir
— Safak Tartanoglu (@safak_tartan) February 25, 2020
The strikes centre around a number of issues, including "anger and frustration" at changes to staff pensions which will could see workers lose tens of thousands of pounds when they retire.
Rising costs and universities' "failure to make significant improvements on pay, equality, casualisation (zero hour contracts) and workloads" are also behind staff taking to picket lines in Greenwich and across the UK.
Up to 50,000 lecturers, technicians, librarians and other academic and support staff started industrial action last Thursday, February 20, marking the third time since 2018 that universities have been hit with strikes.
Bit sniffly today, so not on the picket w/@qm_ucu, but loving the singing and energy of official picket of University of Greenwich. Solidarity w/@UoGHistorians! @ucu #UCUstrikes #UCUstrikesback pic.twitter.com/r97ahRRjnX
— Katherine Parker (@katieparker18th) February 25, 2020
Action also took place in February and March 2018, and as Greenwich staff join the strikes today, there appears to be mostly widespread support for the workers, including from Greenwich Student's Union.
The University of Greenwich is not directly negotiating with the union, with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) negotiating pay and conditions on behalf of 147 universities.
The university does say it is "absolutely committed" to supporting the wellbeing of our staff," but fully supports the work UCEA are doing nationally and its commitment to reach a resolution.
"Our priority now is to minimise any potential disruption resulting from the strike on our students and staff as far as we possibly can," its statement read.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "We have seen more members back strikes since the winter walkouts and this next wave of action will affect even more universities and students.
"If universities want to avoid further disruption they need to deal with rising pension costs, and address the problems over pay and conditions.
The union is also threatening a new ballot targeting a fresh mandate for further action covering the rest of the academic year if the disputes are not resolved.
A UCEA spokesman said universities were "deeply disappointed" that extensive strikes were going ahead.
The full dates for strike action in Greenwich will see staff walk out for one day this week, followed by an escalating number of days each week.
Week one: Tuesday 25 February
Week two: Monday 2 - Thursday 5 March
Week three: Monday 9 - Friday 13 March
Week four: Tuesday 17 - Friday 20 March
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