Mass walkout by university staff over ‘miserly’ pay

University staff across Scotland are staging a walkout today over what they describe as a “miserly” pay offer.

Classes face disruption as staff at Dundee, Abertay, St Andrews and Stirling join colleagues across the country in forming picket lines.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU), Unison and Unite are joining in coordinated strike action in the row over pay.

UCU’s Scottish official Mary Senior said: “Staff at Scottish universities are angry they’ve had to endure massive pay cuts in recent years.

“This year’s miserly 1% pay offer at a time of rising bills and increased pension contributions was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Staff love their jobs but their goodwill cannot continue to be taken for granted.”

Picket lines are also expected at the universities of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Lunchtime rallies will be held in Dundee, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

A spokesman for Dundee University said: “We anticipate being open and offering as full a service as possible.”

St Andrews University made no comment ahead of the strike.