The University of Greenwich is set for two months of industrial action following strikes which began on February 1.

University lecturers and support staff at the University of Greenwich are striking as part of ongoing disruption by the University and College Union (UCU) about pay, conditions and pensions.

Around 20 per cent of staff at the University of Greenwich are represented by the UCU.

The UCU has scheduled 17 more days of strike action over February and March which are set to impact universities in London and across the UK.

Further strikes are set to take place on February 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27 and 28.

 Strikes are also planned for March 1, 2, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22.

University and College Union (UCU) members are demanding university bosses reverse the cuts they made last year, which the union says will lead to their average member losing 35 per cent of their guaranteed retirement income.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “University vice-chancellors have been given multiple opportunities to use the sector’s vast wealth to resolve these disputes.

"Instead, they have forced staff back to the picket line and brought disruption to students.

“Staff aren’t asking for much.

"They want a decent pay rise, secure employment and for devastating pension cuts to be reversed.

"These demands are reasonable and deliverable by a sector which has over £40bn in reserves.

“Students back their staff taking action because they see day in day out the way that it treats those who do the work inside our universities.

“There are 17 further days of strike action planned but it can be avoided. For that, we need university bosses to get serious and make much improved offers.

"If they don’t any disruption that takes place is entirely their responsibility.”

The University of Greenwich is represented by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which is locked in a dispute with the unions.

Last week, the UCEA made an offer of a 5 per cent minimum pay rise to all staff, with lower earners offered up to an 8 per cent rise.

Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive, said: “The sector will now urge trade unions to consult their members over this full and final pay offer rather than push them into striking that tries to target students.

“Higher Education institutions urge trade union leaders to provide their own members with a realistic and fair assessment of what is achievable, before giving them the chance to accept or refuse a pay offer that genuinely attempts to address cost of living pressures.”

The UCU expects its members to reject the latest offer.