University strikes: Students could see exams disrupted amid second wave of action in 2020

More than 43,000 staff members set to walk out from Monday, as union warns action may last into January

(Alamy)

Students could face a second wave of strikes in the new year causing disruption to exams if a dispute over pensions, pay and working conditions is not resolved, the University and College Union has warned.

More than 43,000 members of university staff will walk out at 60 institutions across the UK next week and more than 1 million students are set to be affected by the eight days of strike action.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), has issued warnings that strikes could continue after Christmas, which may affect January exams, if concerns are not taken seriously.

Speaking ahead of the strikes, which start on Monday, Ms Grady said: “There could be a second wave if we don’t get a sustainable, long-term and fair offer from employers.”

She added that fresh walkouts in the spring term could cause similar disruption to last year - when a bitter dispute over pensions saw hundreds of external examiners resign amid the unprecedented action.

“In universities now they will be gearing up for the final few weeks of term for students to either submit essays or to run revision sessions with them for the timetable period that will kick in mid-January onwards,” Ms Grady said.

Union members will also launch other forms of industrial action when they return to work after the eight strike days - including working strictly to contract and refusing to reschedule lectures lost to strike action.

The UCU leader claimed that some staff had been threatened with “draconian” 100-per-cent pay deductions for action short of a strike by HR departments at universities.

Last year, universities were brought to a standstill by unprecedented strikes over pensions and some institutions were forced to pay compensation to students over lost teaching hours.

Students, who have to pay up to £9,250 a year in tuition fees, have already begun demanding refunds the strikes set to take place next week.

Ms Grady said: “Universities will save hundreds of thousands through strike pay deductions of their staff. Students need to be worried and concerned and asking questions about where that money goes.

“I would prefer if students did not have to think of themselves as a consumer in this situation,” she added.

The UCU’s higher education committee is yet to decide whether it will extend the strike action, which is currently planned for 25 November until 4 December, into the new year.

Pension reforms mean university staff will pay about £40,000 more into their pension but receive nearly £200,000 less in retirement, the UCU says.

Increased contributions and other changes to the universities superannuation scheme (USS) mean that many people are suffering substantial losses, the union has previously warned.

Last month, UCU members backed strike action in two separate disputes, one on pensions and one on pay and working conditions.

Overall, 79 per cent of UCU members who voted backed strike action in the ballot over changes to pensions. In the ballot on pay, equality, casualisation and workloads, 74 per cent of members backed strike action.

A spokesperson for USS employers said: "Employers are committed to ensuring USS remains one of the very best pension schemes in the country and we want to work closely with UCU to consider a longer-term solution to its funding situation.

"Our priority is doing all we can to reduce any impact of this action on students, other staff and the wider community. We hope any further damaging action can be avoided and will continue our discussions.

"We believe we can achieve a joint and fair solution and that none of us wish to see students disrupted."