The University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed that three consecutive days of strike action will go ahead from Tuesday at universities across the country - including the University of Cumbria whilst talks with the employers over pay and working conditions continue. 

Over 70,000 staff are striking at 150 universities on Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February. The national disputes are over pay and conditions, and also pensions. 

The UCU has entered Acas negotiations with the employer representative.

The union is calling for employers to make a well-rounded offer, including commitments on casualisation and workload, as well as pay, which it can put to members

UCU representative for the University, Scott Inglis said: “I’m not happy with the thought of 18 days of strike action – I lose a day’s pay every time – but we’re resolved to continue. It’s horrible but we’ve got to carry on.”

The university has previously said that it is “committed to handling the action in a responsible and sensible way.

Schools are also preparing for the next day of teachers’ strikes which are set to hit Cumbria at the end of the month.

Teachers in the National Education Union are taking a further three days of strike in February and March in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Three schools in Maryport, Wigton and Workington have already announced that they will be closed on the next strike day, which is due to be held on Tuesday, February 28 and more are set to announce whether they will be closing or part closing on the affected day.

Thousands of teachers have joined the NEU since the strike dates were announced by the union with hundreds also choosing to sign up in Cumbria.

The NEU have postponed strikes in Wales next week to consult with members on a new pay deal which has been offered by the Welsh Government and has called on the UK government to follow their lead and engage with pay talks with the union.

Elsewhere, Cumbrian postal workers are voting on whether to extend their long running dispute with Royal Mail and the RMT have rejected a pay offer from Network Rail and the train operating companies but have called for further meetings to discuss a deal.

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