Staff at Nottingham Trent University went on strike on 21st October following a dispute between the university and the University and College Union (the largest of its kind for post-16 education). The union was unimpressed by an attempt to effectively de-recognise the union, marginalising it and reducing facility time for union reps by 80%. The decision to strike followed a strike ballot in which 77% voted for industrial action.
The dispute has wide implications for universities and colleges across the nation. Should the university be successful in its attempt to radically undermine the strength of unions, other institutions, such as the University of Sussex could follow suit. The detrimental effect on students of strike action could therefore become a persistent issue.
Sally Hunt, General Secretary at the UCU said “Union members have a right to expect to be properly protected at work and not messed around like this”