Northern universities braced for disruption as lecturers strike over pay

Lecturers at the North’s two main universities have gone on strike in support of a pay claim.

Further industrial action may follow if their call for better pay is not addressed, they have warned.

Industrial action took place yesterday at the University of Ulster, Queen's University and St Mary's College, resulting in some disruption to teaching, but most facilities remained open for students.

Members of the University and College Union and Unite, the largest trade union in the UK, took part in the action, claiming they had suffered losses in real terms while senior university leaders enjoyed enhanced packages.

Prof Mike Larkin, who leads the UCU at Queen's, told the BBC: "With inflation rising year on year and currently running at 3.3 per cent, a final offer of 1 per cent is insulting." He said lecturers and other staff had lived with a 13 per cent cut in real terms since 2008, while the income of vice-chancellors had risen: "Queen's uses the slogan 'We are exceptional' – it is time they rewarded the whole staff that made it so."