Imperial staff to strike next week in pay and conditions row

The dispute centres on management's refusal to increase its below inflation 2% pay award, an offer that members of all three recognised unions (UCU, Unison and Unite) voted to reject.   

The full UCU strike dates are: 

• Tuesday 7 & Wednesday 8 October  
• Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 October 
• Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November 
• Tuesday 25 until Friday 28 November 

Pickets will take place on each day of the action at the South Kensington and White City campuses from 8.30am until 10.30am 

On Wednesday 8 October staff will not picket at White City but will leaflet at entrances to the Royal Albert Hall before the start of Imperial's post-graduate student graduation ceremonies. 

The action follows a ballot in which 77% of participating staff backed strike action, on a turnout of 59%.   

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Staff are the backbone of Imperial and deserve an actual pay-rise. It's a disgrace they are being forced to take industrial action to protect their livelihoods. Striking is a last resort for our members, but this action shows they have had enough and are prepared to fight back.  We call on Imperial to look again at its refusal to increase its pay offer and work with us to find a constructive path forward, or face disruption on campus across October and November'.