Dive Brief:
- U.K. universities' staff members belonging to unions including the University and College Union (UCU), Unison and Unite will likely strike, walking out of work on Thursday, Oct. 31, if a dispute over pay and conditions cannot be resolved.
- This year's pay increase of 1% for lecturers, technicians and administration workers is at issue, along with zero-hours contracts that have frequently been given to junior academics and technicians.
- The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has indicated that it is "disappointed" by union's decision to strike.
Dive Insight:
The UCEA maintains that more than 40% of staff affected by the negotiations could be eligible for more pay, potentially getting increases of as much as 4%. The unions don't seem so optimistic, though. If you work in or deal with colleagues at schools in the U.K., you may want to mark your calendar for this strike and prepare accordingly.