The University and College Union’s decision to opt for a “middle way” in its industrial action strategy offers the best chance of uniting its membership and claiming some sense of victory in the UK sector pay dispute, commentators said.
Following weeks of debate, the union’s higher education committee called 18 days of strike action through February and March on a timetable that was still to be announced at the time of writing. A marking and assessment boycott is planned for April.
While this is not the “indefinite” walkout that some more radical voices had called for, it is still a significant escalation on the three days of strike action held in the autumn term. More than 70,000 UCU members across 150 universities could participate.
“It is an escalating and serious response to the lack of serious movement from our employers,” said Vicky Blake, a former president of the UCU and a widening participation officer at the University of Leeds.
