More than 70,000 staff members across 150 UK universities are continuing their strike today (Friday, February 10), in protest of work conditions, salaries, and pensions.
The University College Union (UCU) members are planning to walk out for 15 more days afterwards.
The UCU has announced that it has agreed to meet the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) with the mediation of the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on Monday, February 13, alongside four other higher-education unions.
Their united action began on Wednesday, February 1, and is expected to impact roughly 2.5 million students throughout February and March.
Earlier this month, university bosses offered a five per cent pay rise, with the University and College Union (UCU) declaring it is “not enough”.
Regarding the pension dispute among university staff, UCU has demanded employers revoke earlier cuts and restore benefits.
The package of USS pension cuts meant the average lecturer was set to lose 35 per cent of their future guaranteed retirement income, with those starting out in their university career potentially losing hundreds and thousands of pounds.
So, how much do university staff earn?
The Standard takes a look:
How much does a university lecturer make in the UK?
In the United Kingdom, there is a pay spine known formally as the HE Single Pay Spine.
This is led by the UCU, which negotiates salaries, employment conditions, and pay structure on behalf of higher education (HE) and further education (FE) institutions.
According to the 2019 HE Single Pay Spine and the typical 2019/20 university grade system, an average salary for university staff in the UK is £40,761 for a lecturer, £51,590 for a senior lecturer, £64,356 for an associate professor, and £90,891 for a professor.
The vast majority of UK universities use the HE Single Pay Spine, however, a handful of institutions do not.
When not using the HE Single Pay Spine, staff salaries are regulated internally.
According to the 2018/19 HE Single Pay Spine and the average 2019/20 grading levels, the average salaries of research assistants, lecturers, and professors include:
- Graduate Research Assistant, £30,760, £26,715 – £34,804
- Associate Lecturer, £30,760, £26,715 – £34,804
- Postdoctoral Research Assistant, £31,990, £29,176 – £34,804
- Lecturer, £40,761, £34,804 – £46,718
- Research Fellow, £40,761, £34,804 – £46,718
- Senior Lecturer, £51,590, £44,045 – £59,135
- Senior Research Fellow, £51,590, £44,045 – £59,135
- Associate Professor, £64,356, £55,750 – £72,962
- Professor, £90,891, £68,531 – £113,251
When are the next strikes by university workers in February and March?
The full dates of strike action include:
- Tuesday, February 14
- Wednesday, February 15
- Thursday, February 16
- Tuesday, February 21
- Wednesday, February 22
- Thursday, February 23
- Monday, February 27
- Tuesday, February 28
- Thursday, March 2
- Thursday, March 16
- Friday, March 17
- Monday, March 20
- Tuesday, March 21
- Wednesday, March 22
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