UCU announces additional university strike day as talks continue

The union has called this date in addition to those set to take place on Thursday 16, Friday 17, Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March. 

UCU is currently in negotiations with employers via conciliation service Acas. As part of the process, employers had agreed not to impose a pay offer. However, part way through the talks, employer body UCEA instructed its member institutions to implement the first part of the pay offer, despite unions never agreeing to it. 

UCU is still in negotiations with UCEA at conciliation service Acas. General secretary Jo Grady confirmed that progress was being made across a range of non-pay areas. 

UCU is currently reballoting its members to extend the union's mandate to take industrial action. 

You can watch the general secretary's video update and read a full transcript here. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'I'm pleased to say that whilst Acas talks take place on a confidential basis, we are making progress across a range of subjects and will bring you more information as those talks come to a natural conclusion. 

'The employer chose to put out their pay offer and make it clear that it is final and that universities can implement the initial element of that pay offer. We need to be absolutely crystal clear; this is not a pay offer that has been agreed with us as a union, or any of the other unions involved in the negotiations. 

'The reasons we've added this additional date is to focus the employers mind as talks come to a conclusion this week and especially early next week. They need to have on them the maximum amount of pressure.  

'The crucial thing now though is that you get the word out about the action, but more crucial than that is that you vote yes in the reballot.'