University support staff in Glasgow and Dundee to walk out in dispute over pay

Support staff at four universities in Scotland, including cleaners and librarians, are to strike in the coming weeks in a dispute over pay.

Unison said there will be co-ordinated action for at least two days at the start of the new term.

The walkout is separate to strikes at the end of the month by lecturers and other staff at 140 universities across the UK in a separate row over pay and conditions.

Unison said the action follows demands for a fair wage rise after years of below-inflation increases.

Union members will stage a series of strikes at four institutions at Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow School of Art, University of Dundee and University of Glasgow later this month, while 16 universities in England will walk out on October 2 and 3.

The action includes a strike involving all four Scottish universities on Wednesday 20 September.

Staff voted to reject a pay offer for 2023/24 worth between 5% and 8% and have voted to take industrial action.

Unison’s head of education Mike Short said: “Support staff play a crucial role helping students through university but they’ve endured years of real-terms pay cuts.

“Many can’t support themselves as prices of food, fuel and household bills continue to rise. Some are having to leave for better-paid jobs elsewhere and that risks leaving millions of students facing a worsening university experience. Universities must improve wages.”

Members of the University and College Union will strike for five days from September 25 in their long-running dispute over pay and conditions.