Over 50 Bangor University staff have taken to the picket lines this morning across various University sites, including the Main Arts Building, the University Library, Dean Street, the Normal Site and the School of Ocean Sciences.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are fighting proposed cuts to Universities Superannuation Scheme members’ pensions. The UCU says this would leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement than under the current agreement.
The escalating wave of strikes will take place over a four-week period, and is likely to affect 61 universities across the UK, beginning today with a five-day walkout either side of the weekend. There will then be four days of strikes from Monday 5 – Thursday 8 March and a full five-day walkout the following week (12 – 16 March).
Teach Outs
Striking staff at Bangor University have decided to provide a series of public teaching events, while on strike. These will be open to all students, all staff and the public.
The first ‘Teach-Out’ is taking place on Thursday 22, 1.00pm – 4.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House, Deiniol Road.
The ‘Teach-Outs’ on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th take place in the Vestry of Emaus Chapel on Garth Road/ Love Lane, Bangor.
Compensation
Most students support the strike action by their lecturers and there has even been a Facebook page set-up in support of the staff, while over 2,000 people have signed an online petition which is demanding up to £840 compensation per student, claiming that students are ‘being denied their education’ by the strikes which are affecting approximately 11,000 students across the Bangor and Wrexham Campuses.’
Strike Dates
Week one – Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February (two days)
Week two – Monday 26, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 February (three days)
Week three – Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 March (four days)
Week four – Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 March (five days)
