STAFF at the University of Bradford (UoB) will begin a ten day walkout today.

A trade union has claimed University leaders have ‘failed staff and students’ as strike action commences across the UK over devastating cuts to pensions and deteriorating pay and working conditions.

More than 50,000 staff are expected to walkout with well over a million students set to be impacted.

University and College Union (UCU) members at UoB will be hosting picket lines outside the main campus’ entrance on Great Horton Road at 8.30am on the following days 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 28 February and 01, 02 March.

In total, staff at 44 universities, including Leeds Uni, will take part after university employers refused to withdraw cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) or accept UCU’s compromise proposals which would have seen staff and employers paid slightly more to protect benefits and resolve the pension dispute.

Next Monday, strike action over pay and working conditions will also start with a further 24 universities joining the action.

This dispute is over 20 per cent real terms pay cut over the past 12 years, unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and the use of exploitative and insecure contracts, which are rife across the sector.

The final day of strike action in week three has been called to coincide with the student strike on March 2.

The National Union of Students (NUS) is supporting UCU’s industrial action and is calling for better working conditions, pay and pensions for staff.

Staff are also engaged in Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) which involves working strictly to contract.

In retaliation, employer representatives have authorised bosses to withhold the pay of staff taking ASOS.

Six universities, including the University of Bradford, are claiming they will deduct 100%.

UCU has warned that this may lead to even more strike action being called.

To resolve the pension dispute UCU is demanding employers revoke the cuts to staff pensions and formally accept the union’s compromise proposals.

To resolve the pay and working conditions dispute UCU is demanding a £2.5k pay increase for all staff, as well as action to tackle unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and the use of insecure and exploitative contracts.

A spokesperson from the UoB said: “UCU has mandates for strike action and ASOS at the University of Bradford until May 3, relating to national issues including changes to the USS pension scheme and the 2021 pay increase.

"Strike action took place from 1 to 3 December 2021. Further strike action is also due to take place.

"In addition, UCU has called on its members to take part in continuous action short of strike up until May 3.

"The University is working to minimise the impact of such action on students and their experience.”