Tens of thousands of university staff to strike for 18 days between February and March

More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities across the UK will go on strike for 18 days between February and March.

The strike has been called amid disputes over pay, conditions and attacks on pensions, the University College Union (UCU) stated.

Members, which include academics, librarians and other staff, are asking for a pay rise above the 4% to 5% offered by employer group the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

Exact dates will be confirmed next week, the union added.

General secretary Jo Grady said: “The clock is now ticking for the sector to produce a deal or be hit with widespread disruption throughout spring.”

The UCU has claimed its average member will lose more than one third of their future retirement income under a “package of cuts” being planned by employers.

Britain’s universities have been rocked by a series of lecturer walkouts since the start of the academic year.

A three-day walkout by UCU members at 150 universities in November was the largest strike by higher education staff in history.

Around 2.5 million students were affected by the industrial action.

The news comes hours after teacher members of the NASUWT failed to meet the legal threshold to strike.

Nine in ten members voted in favour of the walkout – but fewer than half turned out in the vote.

The NASUWT said the vote showed “the anger of the profession”.

Aberdeen, The University of Abertay University Aberystwyth University Anglia Ruskin University Arts University Bournemouth Aston University Bangor University Bath Spa University Bath, University of Bedfordshire, University of Birkbeck, University of London Birmingham City University Birmingham, The University of Bishop Grosseteste University Bolton, The University of Bournemouth University Bradford, University of Brighton, University of Bristol, University of Brunel University Buckinghamshire New University Cambridge, University of Canterbury Christ Church University Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff University Central Lancashire, University of Chester, University of Chichester, University of City, University of London Courtauld Institute of Art Coventry University Cranfield University Cumbria, University of De Montfort University Derby, University of Dundee, The University of Durham University East Anglia, University of East London, University of Edge Hill University Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh, University of Essex, University of Exeter, University of Falmouth University Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow School of Art Glasgow, University of Gloucestershire, University of Goldsmiths, University of London Greenwich, University of Harper Adams University Heriot-Watt University Hertfordshire, University of Huddersfield, The University of Hull, The University of Imperial College London Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Keele University Kent, The University of King’s College London Kingston University Lancaster, University of Leeds Arts University Leeds Beckett University Leeds Trinity University Leeds, The University of Leicester, University of Lincoln, University of Liverpool Hope University Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Liverpool, University of London Metropolitan University London School of Economics London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London South Bank University Loughborough University Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, The University of Middlesex University Newcastle University Newman University Northampton, The University of Northumbria University Norwich University of the Arts Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, The University of Open University Oxford Brookes University Oxford, University of Plymouth Marjon University Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, University of Queen Margaret University Queen Mary, University of London Queen’s University Belfast Reading, University of Robert Gordon University Roehampton University Rose Bruford College Royal Academy of Music Royal Agricultural University Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Royal College of Art Royal College of Music Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Northern College of Music Royal Veterinary College, University of London Ruskin College Salford, The University of SAMS at University of the Highlands and Islands Senate House, University of London Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield, The University of SOAS, University of London Solent University South Wales, University of Southampton, University of St Andrews, University of St George’s, University of London St Mary’s University College, Belfast St Mary’s University, Twickenham Staffordshire University Stirling, The University of Stranmillis University College Strathclyde, University of Suffolk, University of Sunderland, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, University of Swansea University Teesside, University of Trinity Laban UCA University for the Creative Arts Ulster University University College Birmingham University College London University of the Arts London University of Wales Trinity Saint David Warwick, University of West London, University of West of England, University of the West of Scotland, University of the Westminster, University of Winchester, The University of Wolverhampton, University of Worcester, University of Wrexham Glyndwr University Writtle University College York, University of York St John University

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