Staff at the University of Bolton are set to join their colleagues across the country in striking later this month.
The strikes will take place for five days from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September, hitting up to 140 universities around the country.
This comes amid long running calls for action on pay and conditions from the University College Union.
Bolton University Vice Chancellor Professor George E Holmes said: “This is a national issue in respect of pay, not something Bolton alone has either caused or can solve.
“We have some of the best staff in the sector, as evidenced by the best student satisfaction scores again in the region, and colleagues have carried out their professional responsibilities to their students with dedication and commitment throughout this ongoing national dispute.
“I have every confidence that our students will get the very best support from our staff even during a national call to action.
“I trust our staff and acknowledge their professionalism.”
Union members say they decided to take strike action after their employer body, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association imposed a pay award for 23/24 worth just five per cent for most UCU members, which they overwhelmingly voted to reject.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We are left with no option but to strike during the start of term because our members refuse to stand by while pay is eroded and staff are shunted onto gig-economy contracts.
“It is shameful that vice-chancellors still refuse to settle the dispute despite a year of unprecedented disruption and have instead imposed a pay award that staff overwhelmingly rejected.
“Universities are richer than ever, generating tens of billions of pounds in income and hoarding billions more in cash deposits.
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“But they won’t give staff their fair share, a pay award of 5 per cent is a huge real terms pay cut and is substantially lower than school teachers received.”
She added: “We have sought to settle this dispute at every opportunity, including agreeing to a joint review of sector finances, but we are faced with employers that want to see staff and students suffer.
“We desperately hope vice-chancellors realise we are going nowhere without a fair settlement and make us a realistic offer.
“If they do not, campuses will be marred by picket lines during fresher’s week, and we will launch a new strike ballot allowing us to take action well into 2024.”
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