Kingston University lecturers are voting to decide whether to strike, after an ‘insulting’ one per cent pay increase was offered for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Members of The University and College Union (UCU) are being balloted and with a yes vote expected, strikes could occur during the Autumn term.
Insulting
Simon Choat, Senior Lecturer in Politics & International Relations and also Membership Secretary for the Kingston University branch of UCU, said: “We have around 500 members in Kingston University UCU and all of them will be expected to strike if the ballot returns a ‘yes’. The union branch will try to ensure that as many lecturers as possible are out on the picket line.”
“Given that inflation is around three per cent, a one per cent pay rise amounts to a pay cut — that is on top of changes to our pensions — that leave us paying more and working longer for a smaller pension. Many staff find that not just miserly but insulting.”
Demotivated staff
Choat said that strikes would cause disruption to students’ timetables, but said that the action would benefit everyone in the long run:
“No lecturer wants to damage students’ education. But in the long term students will not benefit from being taught by underpaid and demotivated staff.”
The ballot will close on October 10 with the result expected shortly after.