Just like in Nigeria, where the university staff union (ASUU) embarked on a nationwide strike, union members working in higher education in United Kingdom have taken part in a UK-wide strike over pay on Thursday.

Members of trade unions took to the picket line at University of Ulster Jordanstown, St Mary's College in west Belfast and Queen's University.

They are calling for an improvement in the 1% pay rise offer made by employers as they say they have suffered a 13% real term pay cut since 2008.

According to Unite union, pay and benefits for university leaders have increased on average by more than £5,000 in the last year, with the average pay and pension package for vice-chancellors hitting almost £250,000.

Mike Larkin, president of the university and college union at Queen's said workers felt they had no other choice.

"Pay has been so low for so many years, we've lost 13% in our pay over the last four years and a 1% pay offer is just not good enough," he told UTV.

He added that those on strike were not out to damage the education of university students.

Eugene McGlone, from Unite the Union, told UTV: "Staff at universities have seen their pay drop over the last five years.

"And at the same time have noticed that the top 10% of the employees at the university - that's the top 10 managers etc - have seen their pay increase by at least 5.5% year or year and those sorts of figures are absolutely damning."

Academic and support staff have both taken part in the action.

Dr John Barry from the School of Politics at Queen's said the walk-out was a "sign of desperation".

"Prices have risen, the price of fuel, the price of childcare, travel and essentially we've taken a pay cut over the last number of years and enough is enough," he said.

"Our campaign is not simply for well-paid academics, this is really about the pay and conditions for the quality of work that we want.

"Universities are here as major drivers of the economy, certainly in Northern Ireland, it's about helping create a post-conflict society.

"We certainly want to be paying academics and indeed our support staff good wages as well."

Queen's University has said it does not support strike action and that it has taken necessary steps to ensure there is minimal impact on students.

Some students were disgruntled at the disruption to their classes and told UTV they were not in favour of the strikes.

But further action, around graduation and exam times, could be planned if a resolution that workers are happy with is not found.


According to BBC Mary Senior, UCU's Scottish official, said there had been a good turn-out at the picket line at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

She said: "We're very upbeat, we've been explaining to people why we are out today and people have been signing our petition.

"Lectures have been cancelled and the library in Glasgow is closed, so the action is having an effect.

"We want the employers to come back to the negotiating table and make a better offer."

Protests were also organised at Stirling and St Andrews.

Union members were also expected to take part in rallies later.

Credits: UTV and BBC

http://www.nigerianeye.com/2013/10/universities-shut-in-united-kingdom-uk.html

I just hope this won't make the government in Nigeria to now relax... "afterall it happens also in the UK... blah.. blah... blah..."
PLEASE REOPEN OUR SCHOOLS, GEJ. An agreement is an agreement!

Good!... Bad people are found everywhere...Nigeria, Govt and even in the UK too. Leaders of bad people in Nigeria is GEJ... Oduah and Wike etc are officers...Tinubu,Buhari, IBB, Ameachi who are also equally bad are warming up to occupy their enviable seat. Some stupid people from the North, South East and South West thinks bad people should be good if they are from their tribe...Oloriburuku gbogbo!

Thanks 4 the info.. Anything else?

I'm sure the strike will be called off in few days unlike ASUU strike that has drag on for months.

Strikes in the UK is usually not more than a day and you don't get paid if you participate in the strike, it's nothing compared to ASUU's strike. Also not all workers are union members so don't expect a total shut down.

And what purpose is this thread suposed to serve

Bunch of odes that don't read properly before posting. They embarked on a ONE DAY strike action on Thursday. This is not your 4 month ASUU strike which your govt turns a blind eye to. The UK govt can never tolerate any situation which leads to an extended industrial action in its universities because UK education is an important source of foreign income from places like Nigeria and it has a reputation to protect.
Stop looking for excuses and hold your own govt accountable to you, you despicable gang of cowards!

you go fear fear

omenka: And what purpose is this thread suposed to serve

To tell u that oga jona is stiring the nation in the right direction.

Starlett: I just hope this won't makeI the government in Nigeria to now relax... "afterall it happens also in the UK... blah.. blah... blah..."
PLEASE REOPEN OUR SCHOOLS, GEJ. An agreement is an agreement!

Exactly bro, Nigerians with theire infiriourity palava...they may start saying rubbish now.

daz_york: Bunch of odes that don't read properly before posting. They embarked on a ONE DAY strike action on Thursday. This is not your 4 month ASUU strike which your govt turns a blind eye to. The UK govt can never tolerate any situation which leads to an extended industrial action in its universities because UK education is an important source of foreign income from places like Nigeria and it has a reputation to protect.
Stop looking for excuses and hold your own govt accountable to you, you despicable gang of cowards!

Why The harsh words

SMH... And you want to compare their one day strike action(without pay) to ASUU's 4 Months + strike action with pay?.. These guys are reasonable enough not to damage their educational institutions while asking for their rights.. ASUU isn't ..

when exactly did ASUU commence this stike action?

Strike Started July 1, 2013.
As at today it's 123 days.

So sad

Pls stop sensational reporting. UK strike was a one-day strike. 31st of October only, and dat was during reasing week of most schools, so dere were nt to be any lectures anyway!