People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said,
“University bosses need to take stock of the resounding vote by lecturers and staff for strike action over pay, conditions and pensions.
“People Before Profit send our solidarity to lecturers and staff at 54 universities, including Ulster University and Queen’s, following their overwhelming declaration for strike action over pay, working conditions and pensions.
“UCU members are demanding a £2.5k pay increase for all staff; an end to race, gender and disability pay injustice; a framework to eliminate zero-hours and other casualised contracts; and meaningful action to tackle unmanageable workloads.
“People Before Profit fully back these demands. Wages of university staff has fallen 20% in real terms since 2009. A recently published report documented a widespread workload and mental health crisis in universities. Nearly a third of staff say they feel emotionally drained from work pressure.
“University bosses are acting no differently from private sector bosses. This is about turning universities and education into factories for profit. A university shouldn’t be run like a corporation focused primarily on churning out profit.
“Cancellation of classes will be entirely down to the belligerence and arrogance of university bosses and their disregard for workers and students.
“Cynical university bosses will look for any opportunity to divide and conquer by pitting students against staff.
“It needs to be remembered that university bosses didn’t lift a finger to help students or staff during the pandemic. This is why solidarity between lecturers, staff and students is key.
“We encourage all students to join and support the newly formed ‘Students Supporting Industrial Action’ network.
“We’ll do everything we can to back the demands of lecturers and staff. Across every sector of society employers and government are attempting to put the burden of the pandemic onto the shoulders of workers and the least well-off. The most effective way to respond is with people power resistance and solidarity.”