Union responds to reports of student-run lectures as bitter pay dispute continues

The union was responding to reports (£) that students at Warwick University have started organising their own lectures to try and avoid disruption caused by the union's action. The union said unless the university employers' representatives, UCEA, were prepared to improve a pay offer of just 1%, then more industrial action was on the cards.

Yesterday UCU members walked out for two hours between 2pm and 4pm - their second two-hour stoppage this month. Next Thursday (6 February) they will be taking a full day's strike action joined by colleagues in the Unite, Unison and EIS trade unions.

A further two-hour strike is planned for 9-11am on Monday 10 February and the union has warned that if the dispute is not resolved by then that it will consider moving to a marking boycott, which could hit end of year exams and graduations.

University staff's refusal to accept the 1% pay offer prompted the current pay dispute. UCU says the 1% rise would leave staff with a real-terms 13% pay cut since 2009. The National Union of Students has described the employers' 1% pay offer as 'measly' and called for a quick resolution to the dispute.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We understand the frustrations of students who want to get on with their education and share their concerns about further disruption. However, we have tried to negotiate with the employers for months to improve their miserly pay offer of 1%.

'Further escalation of the dispute, including a ban on marking, will unfortunately lead to greater disruption. We urge students to contact their vice-chancellor or principal and ask them to lobby the national employers' negotiating body, UCEA, to urgently reopen negotiations.'