At the Liverpool Guild of Students, we are proud to be supporting staff that are striking as members of UNISON. We take this action after supporting the UCU throughout this academic year and following a Change It Idea. You can read the full idea here.
The strike action will be taking place on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of June. UNISON members are crucial to our university. They keep university services running in a variety of areas and role such as; administration, libraries, student support, IT services, maintenance, cleaning, catering, security and more. It is thus indisputable that their working conditions directly impact and reflect our learning conditions.
The key elements of this dispute are:
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Working conditions
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Cost of Living
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Inequality
Though the strikes predominantly focus on a pay rise in line with inflation UNISON are staunch in their mission to address and speak up for issues faced by marginalised staff. Committing to the fight against discrimination and inequalities in both the working world and society as a whole.
UNISON demands a pay rise in line with inflation; this has become increasingly urgent given the Cost-of-Living crisis. Staff are struggling to pay their bills; they cannot afford to live in this current climate. UCEA’s final pay offer for 2022/23 was a below-inflation pay rise of 3% for most Higher Education staff. Due to the astronomical rise in inflation during 2022-23 financial year, this offer is in actuality a real terms pay cut. Between 2022/23 and 2023/24 UNISON workers are facing the prospect of the biggest ever real terms pay cut with RPI inflation sat at 13.8% in February 2023 and CPI at 10.4%.
This needs to end now, and we are adamant in our support of UNISON members partaking in strike action. We understand that disruptions may cause frustration, but industrial action will continue, and it is essential that we show our support. Student and staff solidarity is at an all-time high. Staff have stood by us as we campaign on issues such as; tuition fees, a decolonised curriculum and better wellbeing services. It is only right that we thus support our staff in their fight for a better and fairer working life. As such, we are urging all students to join us in our support for the strikes.
You can do so by:
Students supporting staff in industrial actions means less disruption. The longer the picket line the shorter the strike.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact your officers via:
Vasiliki Samuels – vasiliki.samuels@liverpool.ac.uk
Kathryn Manley – kathryn.manley@liverpool.ac.uk
Ella Hatch – ella.hatch@liverpool.ac.uk
Lina Dubbins – lina.dubbins@liverpool.ac.uk