Latest news with #strikeaction
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Newcastle University staff strike ends in settlement
Strike action lasting almost four months by Newcastle University academics has and College Union (UCU) members began strike action in March after management announced it was to make a £20m reduction in the wage bill, equivalent to about 300 UCU said it had received assurances from university bosses no further job losses will be made next year, with more than 200 academics having taken voluntary severance University said it welcomed the settlement which meant striking staff would return to work on Monday. Prof Matt Perry, UCU Newcastle branch chair, said: "They had talked about 150 staff losing their jobs so that's a big win for us after taking serious industrial action. "But we believe that our dispute shows that industrial action can prevent job cuts in higher education." The strike has seen a number of city centre protests, including a National Demonstration earlier this month which saw UCU chapters from across the country gather in Newcastle in solidarity with striking academics. The union has also been critical about how higher education is funded, calling for universities to be funded through taxation as opposed to tuition finances have been in the spotlight since the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed the institution was facing a £35m blackhole due to a decline in international students.A university spokesperson said it had reached its £20m target of salary savings in full and without the need for compulsory redundancies through a combination of voluntary severance, redeployments and other mitigating measures. "We welcome the decision from UCU to end their industrial action and we are pleased that the dispute has now ended by mutual agreement."This is an immensely challenging time for universities across the UK and we recognise that this has been a difficult period for both staff and students." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Why there's an ‘unprecedented level of frustration' amongst Alberta's public sector workers
Some of the biggest public sector unions in the province have voted in favour of taking strike action. From Alberta's teachers to members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, they all have one major issue in common.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Strike ballot launched at university over proposed job cuts
A ballot on strike action at a university has been launched by a union that represents lecturers in response to upcoming redundancies. The Educational Institute of Scotland's (EIS) University Lecturers' Association (ULA) branch at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) said on Monday it had launched the ballot, which closes on July 22 at 12pm. It comes in response to the UWS's Organisational Change Project, which aims to cut around 75 full-time equivalent roles. The union says discussions with university bosses have been largely unproductive, and that the employer has shown a lack of transparency throughout the process. The EIS said the university has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, posing a threat to the job security of its members and the quality of education, and added that it will have an overall detrimental effect on the UWS. Garry Ross, EIS national officer for higher education, condemned the university's approach. 'It is deeply regrettable that the University of the West of Scotland has chosen to make this large number of job cuts and pushed staff to the point of balloting for strike action,' he said. 'The proposed redundancies are a short-sighted and a damaging strategy that will have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of dedicated staff, many of whom have worked at UWS for years. 'Furthermore, it will inevitably lead to a decline in the academic provision, research capacity, and overall student experience at the university. 'We urge UWS to step back from this path and engage meaningfully with the EIS ULA to secure a no compulsory redundancy guarantee.' A UWS spokesperson said: 'We have sought to engage with our recognised trade union representatives ahead of and throughout this process, including the invitation to participate fully. 'Having been disappointed previously when the recognised trade unions withdrew their engagement, we provided an open invitation to return and contribute to shaping the future of UWS. 'We are pleased that this week they returned to the table to join the university in identifying approaches to avoiding compulsory redundancy, with a number of proposals having already been tabled. 'Our approach has been transparent from the outset and we have actively sought to co-create, with colleagues and trade union partners, a business case to address ongoing student population pressures, the challenging external funding environment and the resultant financial consequences being felt across the entire sector.' The spokesperson added: 'The aim throughout this university-wide process is to put UWS on a more sustainable financial footing to enable an even better student experience and enhanced graduate outcomes. 'In common with the rest of the higher education sector across the UK, the university is operating in a very challenging financial environment exacerbated by external factors that have driven a significant change in the size and shape of our student population, and the associated funding.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Strike ballot launched at university over proposed job cuts
A ballot on strike action at a university has been launched by a union that represents lecturers in response to upcoming redundancies. The Educational Institute of Scotland's (EIS) University Lecturers' Association (ULA) branch at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) said on Monday it had launched the ballot, which closes on July 22 at 12pm. It comes in response to the UWS's Organisational Change Project, which aims to cut around 75 full-time equivalent roles. The union says discussions with university bosses have been largely unproductive, and that the employer has shown a lack of transparency throughout the process. The EIS said the university has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, posing a threat to the job security of its members and the quality of education, and added that it will have an overall detrimental effect on the UWS. Garry Ross, EIS national officer for higher education, condemned the university's approach. 'It is deeply regrettable that the University of the West of Scotland has chosen to make this large number of job cuts and pushed staff to the point of balloting for strike action,' he said. 'The proposed redundancies are a short-sighted and a damaging strategy that will have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of dedicated staff, many of whom have worked at UWS for years. 'Furthermore, it will inevitably lead to a decline in the academic provision, research capacity, and overall student experience at the university. 'We urge UWS to step back from this path and engage meaningfully with the EIS ULA to secure a no compulsory redundancy guarantee.' A UWS spokesperson said: 'We have sought to engage with our recognised trade union representatives ahead of and throughout this process, including the invitation to participate fully. 'Having been disappointed previously when the recognised trade unions withdrew their engagement, we provided an open invitation to return and contribute to shaping the future of UWS. 'We are pleased that this week they returned to the table to join the university in identifying approaches to avoiding compulsory redundancy, with a number of proposals having already been tabled. 'Our approach has been transparent from the outset and we have actively sought to co-create, with colleagues and trade union partners, a business case to address ongoing student population pressures, the challenging external funding environment and the resultant financial consequences being felt across the entire sector.' The spokesperson added: 'The aim throughout this university-wide process is to put UWS on a more sustainable financial footing to enable an even better student experience and enhanced graduate outcomes. 'In common with the rest of the higher education sector across the UK, the university is operating in a very challenging financial environment exacerbated by external factors that have driven a significant change in the size and shape of our student population, and the associated funding.'
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Stagecoach drivers end strike action after 11.5% pay uplift agreed
Stagecoach bus drivers have ended strike action after accepting a new pay deal. Walkouts by drivers in the west of Scotland have been ongoing since June 9 and were scheduled to last until July 21. The industrial dispute directly impacted Stagecoach West Scotland operations out of depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan and Kilmarnock, servicing passengers across bus routes in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow. But Unite the union said on Friday it had secured an 11.5% pay uplift for 430 drivers in an 18-month deal. The union said it amounts to an increase, backdated to January, which takes basic hourly pay from £13 per hour to £14 in June this year. From February 2026, the rate will be lifted to £14.50 until July next year when pay negotiations will be renewed. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: 'Unite's members at Stagecoach West Scotland have stood firm to get an improved pay offer. 'The dispute has been resolved only through the brave stance of the drivers taking strike action. 'This dispute was all about decency and fair pay. Unite will always stand up for our members fighting for better jobs, pay and conditions.' Siobhan McCready, Unite industrial officer, said: 'The drivers were only asking to be paid at a rate similar to other Stagecoach drivers across the UK. 'The pay deal will take our members to a level that represents significant progress from where this dispute started. 'Strike action is now over and our members can get back to doing what they do best, which is to provide a first rate bus service for communities across the west of Scotland.' A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: 'We are pleased that our drivers have voted overwhelmingly to accept the pay deal. 'We want to thank our communities for their patience during the disruptive industrial action earlier this month and we now return our focus to ensuring we deliver our essential services to keep communities in Ayrshire connected.'
