University of Sheffield UCU lecturers on strike, 23.6.16, photo by A Tice

University of Sheffield UCU lecturers on strike, 23.6.16, photo by A Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Sheffield UCU strikers run alternative open day

Alistair Tice

University of Sheffield UCU lecturers were on strike today as part of the union’s national campaign for a Fair Deal for Higher Education. Strikers ran an alternative open day, with soap box speakers, explaining to prospective students and their parents how university lecturers had suffered the biggest fall in salary of any public sector workers since the Second World War.

UCU communications officer Sam Marsh contrasted the £14,323 a year salary of the lowest paid university worker, and his own £32,065 a year as an experienced lecturer, with that of the university vice-chancellor Sir Keith Burnett on £385,000 a year!

The aims of the ongoing campaign are to close the gender pay gap (women earn 13% less than their male counterparts), end casualisation (some lecturers get only £2,500 for a three month contract) and win a decent pay rise.

UCU members at Sheffield Hallam university will be striking next Thursday, 30th June.