Students face disruption during strike action
Students were facing disruption at colleges and universities today as workers go on strike in a row over pay.
moreClasses were being cancelled as members of two major unions took part in a walkout.
Picket lines were being set up at Aston and Birmingham Universities, as well as at Bournville College and South and City College.
Wolverhampton University was also braced for some disruption because of the pay dispute. Professor Geoff Layer, vice chancellor, said: "The university regrets that it is faced with industrial action and will take every possible step to minimise the disruption to our students.
"We recognise the right of union members to take such action but we also have a duty of care to our students. All university buildings and facilities will be fully operational on the day of the strike."
It is the second day of strike action in the past six weeks following a walkout on October 31. UCU and Unison were taking part in today's action. Staff in universities were offered a one per cent pay rise this year but claim their pay plummeted by 13 per cent in the last four years.
Lecturers in further education colleges in England rejected a pay offer of 0.7 per cent from their national employers, which they claim was a pay cut of 15 per cent since 2009.
Regional official Anne O'Sullivan said: "Staff in universities and colleges are taking strike action to say enough is enough. They have seen their pay slashed in real terms since 2009 and this year's miserly pay offer, at a time of rising bills, was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"Staff love their jobs, but their goodwill cannot continue to be taken for granted. Nobody wants to take strike action and lose a day's pay, but we feel we have been left with no alternative."