Strikes are set to return to Essex University later this month in a continued dispute over pensions, pay, and working conditions.

Staff had previously gone on strike for three days in November through to December last year, and had warned they would walk out again if talks between the UCU (the trade union for university staff) and UUK (which represents university vice-chancellors) did not progress.

Although it was last year when Essex University staff voted in favour of a strike, they have a legal mandate to take industrial action until the end of the 2022 university term.

The strikes are due to take place over ten days later this month and into March, from Monday February 14 to Tuesday February 22, and then from Monday February 28 to Wednesday March 2.

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Essex University is one of 68 universities across Britain where a walk out will be staged – 10 more than the 58 institutions which had staff strikes last year.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We truly hope that further disruption can be avoided – that is what staff and students alike all want.

“But this is entirely in the gift of employers who simply need to revoke their devastating pension cuts and take long-overdue action over deteriorating pay and working conditions.”