 |
| The RTUC (supported by John Gillman) and RMT (supported by James Denny) banners add a backdrop to the Shinfield Road picket; Jim Parker (Unite) flies the Red Flag! |
Reading Trades Union Council, among a myriad of community groups and unaligned individuals, again showed solidarity with the University and College Union (UCU) in their strike action at the University of Reading in two concurrent disputes relating to eroded terms and conditions (including pay) and changes to pension benefits. RTUC delegates backed the UCU action in November/December and were proud to do so again - and we'll be there again and again if called on by our UCU comrades, sisters and brothers!
 |
| Tanya Wills (Unite) takes the right of the banner |
The latest strike action spanned four weeks:
Week One: 20 & 21 February;
Week Two: 24, 25 & 26 February;
Week Three: 2, 3, 4 & 5 March; and
Week Four: 9, 10, 11, 12 & 12 March.
 |
| John Gillman (centre, Unite) supports the Shinfield Road picket |
Why is there a dispute?
UCU members are in dispute over falling pay, the gender and ethnic pay gap, precarious employment practices and unsafe workloads. University employers consistently fail to address these issues.
Since 2009, pay has been effectively cut by nearly 20% in real terms, while staff are being asked to work harder and longer than ever before. The employers' own analysis highlights that women and black and minority ethnic staff experience significant pay discrimination. Casual contracts remain entrenched. Yet the university employers are refusing to commit themselves to meaningful action on any of these appalling conditions.
 |
| James Denny (white t-shirt, RMT) supports the Pepper Lane picket |
UCU members took strike action over changes to their pension, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). University employers are ignoring pension experts and want staff to pay more based on a flawed way of assessing the scheme.
In 2018, employers shelved their plans to radically redesign USS after UCU took strike action. Both sides agreed to take advice from the JEP - an independent panel of pension experts. At last, after a wasted year, the employers are now beginning to engage with the findings of the JEP's two reports but there is a long way to go if we are to achieve our aims of reforming the fund's valuation methodology and rolling back the unnecessary increases in the cost of the pension. The typical USS member will be around £240,000 worse off in retirement compared to 2011 thanks to the changes made to staff's benefits since then. UCU believe that staff have given enough and they want the employers to step up to the plate and agree a fair way of valuing the fund and to reduce members' costs.
Follow the UCU campaigns for justice for their members here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/campaigns.
 |
| John Partington (right, TSSA) at the Shinfield Road picket with Labour comrades |
Across the four-week strike period, RTUC was represented by James Denny (RMT), John Gillman (Unite), James Parker (Unite), John Partington (TSSA) and Tanya Wills (Unite).
