This is where the surprises began for UUK. In late January, members of UCU voted overwhelmingly in favour of a prolonged strike: 14 days in the first instance in the middle of the spring semester. Other surprises followed: the Financial Times joined UCU in questioning the deficit. Exposés in the popular press highlighted the obscene expenses of university vice chancellors (presidents) and the annual pay raises worth twice the income of a mid-career lecturer which the managers of the “broke” pension fund had been awarding themselves.
Many students, angered by rocketing fees and corporatization, joined picket lines, organized and attended teach-outs and occupied buildings. Even a significant number of vice chancellors broke ranks, calling for negotiations to resume. Meanwhile, union membership soared, with numbers at my institution reaching their highest-ever level.
UUK was eventually persuaded to go back to the negotiating table: a significant concession, given that they had flatly refused to do so before the strike. Their revised offer was, however, only slightly better than the original one. Union members voted overwhelmingly on March 13 to continue the strike, which grew even stronger in its last few days.
Although we have now returned to work, the UCU has vowed to call another strike during the exam period in late May-early June if UUK does not come up with a significantly better offer. The latest news is that the two sides have reached an agreement, but once again it will be subject to a vote by union branch representatives. Watch this space…
Monica White is an Assistant Professor of Russian and Slavonic Studies at the University of Nottingham, and a member of the University and College Union.