LECTURERS at two city universities are set to go out on strike again next month.
Academics at Glasgow and Strathclyde universities will walk out as part of an ongoing dispute with the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) over pensions and working conditions.
Workers will walk out over 10 days from Monday, February 14 to Friday February 18; Monday and Tuesday February 21 and 22 and Monday, February 28 to Wednesday, March 2.
READ MORE: Lecturers at University of Glasgow protest for better pay and pension
Students across the city campuses will be affected by the walk out, but the University and College Union (UCU) say staff are at "breaking point" after a decade of cuts to pensions and what they claim are worsening conditions within the sector.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'It is a damning indictment of the way our universities are managed that staff are being left with no option but to walk out again.
"Time is quickly running out for vice-chancellors to avert strike action, but it can be done. Staff need a proper pay rise, action to tackle insecure contracts, unsafe workloads and pay inequality, and for devastating pension cuts to be revoked. Any disruption that occurs will be the clearest indication yet that university bosses don't value their staff.
"This wave of strike action is a fight for the future of higher education and staff are proud to stand alongside students in the fight for an education system that treats students and staff with respect."
READ MORE: Glasgow University lecturers to walk out over pension cuts and working conditions
A statement released on behalf of USS said: "Evidence from employers shows that UCU’s industrial action is not having the desired effect, with diminishing levels of disruption reported in every walkout since 2018. In December, only a third of UCU members at institutions eligible for industrial action chose to go on strike – accounting for just 9% of staff.
“Students will struggle to understand why they should bear the brunt of UCU’s refusal to confront the financial challenges facing all pension schemes.
“Instead of pursuing strike action and attempting to disrupt students' education, the union should focus on working with employers to find a viable and affordable solution to the 2020 valuation which avoids the unaffordably high costs members and employers are facing from April.
“Universities will minimise the impact of any further industrial action on students by ensuring they can continue to learn and receive support.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow University said: “The University regrets that UCU is proceeding with industrial action.
"We are still assessing the extent of the strike but it appears the large majority of staff will continue to work normally. We will do everything we can to minimise disruption to students during any action.”
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