{"id":38403,"date":"2019-11-26T16:25:59","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T16:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=38403"},"modified":"2019-11-26T16:25:59","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T16:25:59","slug":"cardiff-university-staff-strike-over-perfect-storm-of-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/11\/26\/cardiff-university-staff-strike-over-perfect-storm-of-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff University staff strike over &#039;perfect storm of problems&#039;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lecturers, librarians, IT staff and others are striking for eight days over pensions, pay and job security <\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-JOMEC-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Staff on a picket line outside the school of Journalism, Media and Culture. Image: Edd Church<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>AFTER nearly two years of negotiations on pensions, pay and workloads &#8211; university staff in Cardiff  are striking over a \u201cperfect storm of problems\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Members of the University and College Union at Cardiff University are on strike with colleagues across the UK for eight days between 26 November and 6 December. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Andy Williams, media spokesperson for Cardiff UCU and senior lecturer, said workload levels are making staff \u201cunhealthy\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s not a member of staff I know who doesn\u2019t know a\ncolleague who\u2019s gone off on the sick with stress,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt Cardiff University we\u2019ve even had colleagues kill themselves because of the workload they have to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Dr Williams was referring to Dr Malcolm Anderson who taught accounting and took his own life at the university in February 2018. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/news\/wales-news\/university-tutor-died-after-silently-14751533\">At his inquest the coroner said<\/a> Dr Anderson was under &#8220;huge pressure in terms of work and other things&#8221;. <\/p>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-wales-47296631\">Speaking earlier this year to the BBC<\/a>, Dr Anderson&#8217;s wife called on the university to tackle workload pressures faced by staff in order to prevent another tragedy occurring.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"UK University strikes: Cardiff staff explain why they are walking out\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cTxNV4k1fh0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"UK University strikes: Cardiff staff explain why they are walking out\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cTxNV4k1fh0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><figcaption>Cardiff University staff explain why they are on strike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Dr Williams said there is a \u201cperfect storm of problems facing pay and employment\u201d which has triggered the current industrial action. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>As with previous industrial action in 2018, the dispute is partly about proposed changes to university staff pension schemes. Dr Williams said that, for some, this could cut their post-retirement income in half. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>However, this year\u2019s strikes also centre on temporary work contracts, overwork, staff pay, and Cardiff\u2019s gender pay gap \u2013 which, at around a <a href=\"https:\/\/gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk\/Employer\/jLwzrWnk\/2017\">21% mean disparity, <\/a>is above the 15% national average for universities.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Vader-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>The strikes are also prompted by concerns over the gender pay gap. Image: Edd Church<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The strikes will affect more than one million students nationally, including over 30,000 in Cardiff, with lecture cancellations. Striking staff will be holding pickets, rallies and teach-outs across the eight days. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t want to strike\u201d, said Dr Williams. \u201cWe don\u2019t want\nto harm our student\u2019s education. It\u2019s a last resort, we are at the end of our\ntether. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt will harm students, there\u2019s no doubt. We\u2019re going to\nbring universities to a standstill, but we are completely justified in doing\nit. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen it came to the crunch last time, students listened to\nus and understood what our issues were, they didn\u2019t act like disgruntled\npurchasers- they acted like citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey acted like comrades. And they supported us every step\nof the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"38422\" data-link=\"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?attachment_id=38422\" class=\"wp-image-38422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"38422\" data-link=\"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?attachment_id=38422\" class=\"wp-image-38422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-rally-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"38417\" data-link=\"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?attachment_id=38417\" class=\"wp-image-38417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"38417\" data-link=\"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?attachment_id=38417\" class=\"wp-image-38417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCUlele-1-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"38412\" data-link=\"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?attachment_id=38412\" class=\"wp-image-38412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"38412\" data-link=\"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?attachment_id=38412\" class=\"wp-image-38412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Bonnie Weaver, first-year astrophysics student at Cardiff University, backed up Dr Williams&#8217; claim.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>She said: \u201cI support them. The issues they\u2019re facing are really unfair and I completely understand. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cHaving spoken to my personal tutor, I can tell this is really not what they want to do.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Bella, a postgraduate translation student, said: \u201cI\u2019m\nsupporting the strike today in solidarity with my lecturers and academic staff.\nI\u2019ll be missing out on several lectures, but this is a small price to pay for\nmy lecturers to be able to retire comfortably. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"810\" height=\"541\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk.jpg 810w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-500x334.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-293x196.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"810\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk.jpg 810w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-500x334.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strkes-JOMC-honk-293x196.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Strikes will continue until negotiations are reopened, or 6 December. Image: Edd Church<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe gender pay gap is absolutely unacceptable and the\ndisproportionate number of BAME staff on temporary contracts is unbelievable.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Hopefully the strikes will bring about some form of talks to resolve these issues, and in the meantime, we\u2019ll keep looking for Colin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The UCU has been directly appealing to Professor Colin Riordan, Cardiff University\u2019s Vice-Chancellor, to restart negotiations, with the hashtag <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/wherescolin?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag\">#WheresColin<\/a> on Twitter. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/UCU-Colin-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Talks between universities and the UCU broke down earlier this year. Image: Edd Church<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dr Williams said university staff were \u201cfobbed off\u201d by\nemployers who rejected the results of a panel of experts, which represented\nemployers and union members, on pensions in 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>The panel said the pension scheme&#8217;s deficits the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) calculated should be re-evaluated. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Professor Mark Smith,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucea.ac.uk\/news-releases\/19nov19\/\"> Chair of UCEA, said:<\/a> \u201cThe universities represented in these negotiations have shown they place a high value on their employees. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey continue to offer fair pay and excellent pensions benefits\nas part of a national, sector-wide framework.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strike-rally-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Staff picket the main Cardiff University building. Image: Edd Church<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>UCEA and UUK, in public statements, said they don\u2019t think\nstaff have been \u201cforced\u201d to strike.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>A Cardiff University spokesperson said: \u201cThe university\ntakes the welfare of its staff extremely seriously. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are committed to working with all the members of the\nUniversity community, including the recognised trade unions, to ensure the\nwelfare of our staff. This work remains on-going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Dr Williams said: \u201cI\u2019d say to the UCEA that you should work at the coal face again. They don\u2019t see their colleagues literally losing their minds, going out sick, having their mental health degraded day in day out by unsustainable workloads. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think they should take a good look at themselves in the\nmirror before saying insulting things like that.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis strike can be called off. It can be called off or cut short if decent offers are made and we\u2019re not asking for the world.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lecturers, librarians, IT staff and others are striking for eight days over pensions, pay and job security AFTER nearly two years of negotiations on pensions, pay and workloads &#8211; university staff in Cardiff are striking over a \u201cperfect storm of problems\u201d. Members of the University and College Union at Cardiff University are on strike with colleagues across the UK for eight days between 26 November and 6 December. Andy Williams, media spokesperson for Cardiff UCU and senior lecturer, said workload [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":38412,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,92,3],"tags":[747,706,707,1493],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-38403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cathays","category-city","category-news","tag-cardiff-strikes","tag-pension-strikes","tag-ucu-strikes","tag-wherescolin"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cardiff University staff strike over &#039;perfect storm of problems&#039; - The Cardiffian<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/11\/26\/cardiff-university-staff-strike-over-perfect-storm-of-problems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cardiff University staff strike over &#039;perfect storm of problems&#039; - The Cardiffian\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lecturers, librarians, IT staff and others are striking for eight days over pensions, pay and job security AFTER nearly two years of negotiations on pensions, pay and workloads &#8211; university staff in Cardiff are striking over a \u201cperfect storm of problems\u201d. Members of the University and College Union at Cardiff University are on strike with colleagues across the UK for eight days between 26 November and 6 December. Andy Williams, media spokesperson for Cardiff UCU and senior lecturer, said workload [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/11\/26\/cardiff-university-staff-strike-over-perfect-storm-of-problems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Cardiffian\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-11-26T16:25:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Strikes-FI.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"620\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"465\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Edd Church\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Edd Church\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/11\/26\/cardiff-university-staff-strike-over-perfect-storm-of-problems\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/11\/26\/cardiff-university-staff-strike-over-perfect-storm-of-problems\/\",\"name\":\"Cardiff University staff strike over &#039;perfect storm of problems&#039; 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