When the university strikes start in September 2023 and full list of unis are affected
Lecturers, librarians and technicians at 42 universities will go on strike from Monday for five days, with a further 10 staging at least a one-day walkout.
Members of the University and College Union are taking action over pay and working conditions.
Strikes had been due to be held at more than 140 universities across the UK, however, dozens of these were called off as they reached an agreement to end “punitive” pay deductions.
UCU members have also engaged in a marking boycott since April but this ended earlier this month.
When are the university strikes?
According to the University and College Union (UCU), most strike action will take place over five consecutive days from Monday 25 September 2023 to Friday 29 September 2023.
However, UCU adds that “a small number of UCU branches strike on different/additional days because of their specific local circumstances”.
The UCU website (which was last updated on 22 September 2023), says the below list is for strike dates running from Monday 25 September to Friday 29 September unless otherwise stated:
- University of London, Birkbeck
- Bournemouth University
- University of Brighton – Currently undertaking indefinite strike action over local redundancies
- Brunel University
- Buckinghamshire New University
- University of Dundee – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
- University of Durham – Striking on Tuesday 26 September
- Edge Hill University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow – Striking on Wednesday 27 September
- Gloucester University – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
- University of Greenwich
- Harper Adams University
- Heriot-Watt University
- Keele University
- Kingston University
- University of Leeds
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- University of Liverpool
- London Metropolitan University – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
- London South Bank University
- Manchester, University of
- Newcastle University
- Open University
- Oxford Brookes University – Striking on Wednesday 27 September
- University of Oxford
- Plymouth Marjon University
- Plymouth University – Striking on Monday 25 September
- Queen Mary, University of London – Strike days are over punitive pay deductions for those who took part in the marking and assessment boycott (MAB)
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal Agricultural University
- Royal College of Art
- Royal College of Music
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- University of Salford
- University of Sheffield
- University of South Wales
- St Mary’s University College Belfast
- Stranmillis University College
- University of Strathclyde – Striking on Tuesday 26 September, Wednesday 27 September and Thursday 28 September
- University of Sussex – University of Sussex management has agreed to return all docked deductions in return for marking being completed. The branch is still in negotiations with management over the forthcoming strike action.
- Trinity Laban – Striking on Thursday 28 September
- Ulster University
- University College Birmingham
- University for the Creative Arts
- University of the Arts London
- University of West England – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
- Westminster University – Striking on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September
- Writtle University College
You can find further live updates here.
Why are universities striking?
The strike is over national pay and working conditions.
UCU members also engaged in a marking and assessment boycott that had been in place since April. This ended on 6 September.
The union said employers responded to the boycott by making pay deductions but announced on Friday (22 September) that deals have been made between employers and UCU branches over the ending of these deductions – including at universities in Aberdeen, Bristol, Bath, Glasgow Caledonian and Stirling.
The UCU has called on other universities to follow suit and said halting action will allow its branches to focus on organising a re-ballot of members to continue taking industrial action in the long-running national dispute.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We have seen many employers do the right thing and agree to stop punitive pay deductions and some have also agreed to return what has been taken. We are now urging other vice-chancellors to follow their lead and are calling off strike action at dozens of universities. This will also allow our members to concentrate on winning the re-ballot and getting the pay and conditions they deserve.
“Renewing our mandate and keeping the pressure on is the way we will win this dispute, but the strike action due to go ahead next week stands as a reminder to all employers that if you behave egregiously, you will face further disruption.”
Raj Jethwa, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), said: “Students and staff will welcome the announcement that UCU has stood down next week’s strike days at the majority of institutions.
“It is still disappointing that a number of UCU branches will attempt to carry out strike action. UCEA’s priority is to work with the UCU and the other four trade unions on a number of important pay-related matters including the review of the pay spine, workload, contract types and further action to reduce the already falling pay gaps in the sector.
“A crucial element of resetting industrial relations in the sector is developing a shared understanding of affordability. For the sake of students and staff alike, it is now vital to work together to bring to an end the sector’s recent cycle of industrial disputes.”
