The University of Essex is facing strike action over staff pensions, pay and working conditions.
The action will last for 14 days and take place over February and March. It will start on Thursday 20 February and escalate each week, culminating with a week-long walkout from Monday 9 to Friday 13 March.
The University and College Union (UCU) has announced 74 universities will be taking part in the walk-out which will affect over 1.2million students.
The dispute is due to a failure to agree on terms for pay, equality, workloads and rising pension costs for members.
The strikes are expected to take place on the following dates:
- Week one – Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February
- Week two – Monday 24, Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February
- Week three – Monday 2, Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March
- Week four – Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March
UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said: “We have seen more members back strikes since the winter walkouts, and this next wave of action will affect even more universities and students.”
She added: “If universities want to avoid further disruption they need to deal with rising pension costs, and address the problems over pay and conditions.”
“We have been clear from the outset that we would take serious and sustained industrial action if that was what was needed.”
“As well as the strikes starting later this month, we are going to ballot members to ensure that we have a fresh mandate for further action to cover the rest of the academic year if these disputes are not resolved.”
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