University of Winchester staff go on strike over pay

With the highest turnout for HE UNISON members in England at 75 per cent, UNISON members at the university voted overwhelmingly to strike.

The University of Winchester is treating the matter as settled and have imposed a three per cent pay rise, which is a seven per cent real terms pay cut, coming after many years of real terms pay cuts, says the union.

On September 20, picket lines were stationed at the King Alfred campus and by the West Downs Centre.

Rory Elliott, lead workplace representative at the university, said: Members have had enough. We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis which is out of control. Members are very worried about their energy bills this winter and their just hasn't been the support from the university so it has come to this."

September 20 marked the first day of teaching for the new academic year. Mr Elliott said that students had been supportive of the strike action.

He said: Students have been asking who we are and why we're striking. We explained to them that we are professional services staff and we run the university behind the scenes. To their credit, they have recognised our importance."

Callum Williamson, branch secretary of Hampshire UNISON, said: "We hope that our action will be enough to bring the employers back to the table but we're well aware that this may require further days of strike action. We're determined to get a fair settlement."

One member of staff on strike, who did not want to be named, said: "We were told we were essential during the lockdown period. We have been keeping the university running for the students and we've been under paid for years and years. I'm working two jobs and struggling to pay my bills."

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UNISON members at Winchester are not alone in taking action this week, universities across the country will also be taking industrial action for fair pay.

UNISON head of higher education for the South East, Neil Duncan-Jordan said: "Our members have seen their pay fall catastrophically at the university causing real hardship. There are UNISON members using food banks to feed their families. Our members sense of injustice is exacerbated by the fact that their employers at Winchester have ensured that their own pay has gone up in leaps and bounds while they impose annual cuts on their colleagues, the Vice Chancellor's remuneration package is worth around £300,000 a year. This cannot go on – members are at the end of their tether and will fight to restore fair pay. We look to the public to recognise the justice of our struggle and give us their support. Enough is enough."

A university spokesman said: "We recognise the pressures facing staff and students in the light of the national cost of living crisis and we are looking at a number of ways to help those who most need support. We also recognise that colleagues across the university work very hard to ensure that our students have an excellent educational experience, and we really value their professionalism and commitment. The annual process to determine professional staff salaries is agreed through a national negotiating framework and not by the university. This means that any resolution of this dispute can only be made through the national collective negotiation process."