Lecturers are set to stage another strike next month as arguments over pay levels continue.

Students will again have to deal with the cancellation of lectures and seminars on December 3. Last month’s strike caused several University buildings to close and both of the libraries shut early.

A University spokesperson told LS: “The University will do all we can to minimise the disruption. We would advise students that they should attend lectures, seminars and tutorials as usual unless notified otherwise.”

Following the previous strike, members of the University and College Union (UCU) have been working no longer than their contractual hours. The Scottish Education Union (EIS) has announced that they will join forces with Unison, the University and College Union (UCU) and Unite if the issue is not resolved before the next scheduled strike.

Michael MacNeil, UCU’s head of higher education, said: “We remain committed to trying to resolve this dispute and the employers now have until December 3 to sit down and positively engage with the unions. If they don’t, then our members and those from our sister unions will be out on strike again.”

Following the first strike, Doctoral Student, Benedict Docherty told LS: “As a PhD student and Teaching Assistant I reluctantly took part in the strike action and cancelled my seminar. I felt my hand was forced, not just by the wider national pay dispute, but by the University’s handling of TA terms and conditions.”

He added: “At best the University is dragging its feet to draft a policy that looks good on paper but which is then left to each school/faculty to implement differently, or at worst they are just being intransigent.”

Carina Derhalli

Photo: Leo Garbutt