STRIKES at Essex University began yesterday as staff took to the picket line to protest against working hours, pay and cuts to their pension.

It is part of nationwide action in the higher education sector, with 50,000 staff at 58 universities striking until tomorrow, disrupting the education of around one million students.

It follows ballots held earlier this term, when 74.7 per cent of the staff who voted indicated they were prepared to take industrial action.

The University College Union (UCU), which is the trade union for university staff, is demanding a £2,500 pay increase for all staff, an end to race, gender and disability pay injustice, and meaningful action to tackle unmanageable workloads.

And striking staff at Essex University formed picket lines outside the business school, sports centre and the entrance to Wivenhoe House.

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Universities UK (UUK), which represents university vice-chancellors in the industrial dispute, branded the pension demands being made by the UCU as “unrealistic, but the general secretary of the UCU said in a statement that staff were asking for “the bare minimum”.

“It is regrettable that staff have been forced into taking industrial action again, but university bosses have shown little interest in negotiating and addressing the concerns,” she said.

“Staff are asking for the bare minimum in a sector awash with money.”

It is not the first time that staff have gone on strike at Essex University, with similar disputes resulting in industrial action in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

A statement from Essex University said campuses will remain open for students throughout the duration of the strikes.

A university spokesman said: “The University of Essex is committed to working with staff to minimise the impact of industrial action on our students and to safeguard their education.

“The library, other facilities, activities and study spaces will continue to be available as normal, including some additional activities.

“We will be working with academics to provide students with as much advice and guidance as possible and will ensure the impact on studies will be minimised.”