Dozens of members of staff went on strike on Thursday following what they have described as “an increasingly bitter row over pay”.

Members of University staff and students stood outside the Union building in solidarity and listened to talks from striking staff. They then moved to Parkinson steps, the starting point of the march that took them to a rally at Victoria Gardens. The strike is the third in a line of protests following a pay rise offer of one per cent.

According to the Universities and College Union (UCU) vice chancellors across the country have received 5 per cent wage increases in the last year. It also says that since 2009, staff have suffered a 13 per cent real-terms pay cut.

A second year English Language and Literature said: “My entire timetable for the day was cancelled due to the strike. It’s annoying, but I feel sorry for the lecturers.”

The President of UCU, Anne Blair, told LS: “We are campaigning to ensure that the employers are negotiating
with us.”

She added: “We had a full terms and conditions pay claim and [the University] only addressed the pay element.”

A spokesperson from the University said: “It is too early to tell what the impact of the national strike has been at the University. While there was some disruption, many academic activities took place as planned, and our facilities and services were functioning.”

Caleb Dodd

Photo: Jack Scates