The University College Union (UCU) in Bangor has written to students at Bangor University explaining the reasons for them taking strike action and asking them for their support.
The latest wave of strike action began in February with staff at 74 UK universities taking action over pay, working conditions and pensions. The walkout follows eight days of strikes in November and December last year and strikes in 2018, which brought university campuses across the UK to a standstill.
The letter to Bangor Students from UCU Bangor President, Dyfrig Jones, said: “The decision to strike has not been taken lightly. UCU is fighting to protect staff pensions and salaries, but more fundamentally, we are standing up for the future of Higher Education. We do this for you, and for the students of the future, as much as for our own interests.
“The reality is that our professional lives have been steadily deteriorating for years. An increasing number of academic staff are employed on short-term contracts, with no job security. With each passing year, it is becoming more difficult for new lecturers to enter the profession. Young academics have few opportunities to secure a long-term, sustainable career. This is especially true for women, and for members of ethnic minorities, where cultural and institutional barriers often hold them back.
“Job insecurity is not the only problem that we face. UCU members have seen our wages decline by 17%, in real terms, over the last decade. While the value of our salaries is falling, our workload has increased dramatically, with many of our members reporting that they are under severe stress, and that their health is suffering from work pressure. To top it all, there is a real threat to the future of our pension scheme, money that we save to protect us in old age.
“This is not a criticism of Bangor University in particular. These are problems that exist across Britain, and this dispute is an attempt to resolve these issues at a national level. But the reality is that these problems need to be resolved urgently. If we stand back, and allow this decline to continue, then it is jeopardizing the whole future of the Higher Education sector.
“I am aware that this strike is disrupting your education, and I sincerely apologize for that. But the reality is that UCU members have a duty to take a stand on these issues.
“NUS (National Union of Students) UK have expressed their support for the strike. This expression of support is greatly appreciated by UCU, but our members realise that many individual students are yet to be persuaded.
“During the strike, our members picket outside the Main Arts Building, along with various other locations, every morning. Any of you are welcome to come along to us for a chat, to offer support but also to discuss your concerns.
“All UCU members would appreciate the opportunity to discuss these issues with you, in an attempt to persuade you to support this vital strike.”
