Striking lecturers have promised to maintain pressure on Dundee University bosses over a “measly” 1% pay rise.
Members of the Dundee branch of the University and College Union (UCU) walked out for two days of national industrial action.
Union members have become dismayed over a number of contractual issues including a tabled 1.1% pay rise for university staff and an alleged gender pay- gap.
Representatives have also been left disgusted at claims that university chiefs have allegedly been awarded an average pay increase of 5.1% by the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) during 2015/2016.
Unhappy union leaders allege that higher education staff’s wages have suffered real time cuts of more than 14% since 2009.
Commenting on the walk out, Dundee UCU President Ian Ellis said: “This is a national pay dispute over the employer’s measly 1.1% offer.
“We’ve asked for 5% because over the last five years since we last had a decent pay rise we’ve gone down by about 15%.
“Staff can no longer accept that the sector cannot afford a reasonable increase in pay when principals and vice-chancellors, across the UK, are receiving increases in their take-home income well above the percentage rise awarded to everyone else.
“When part-time members of staff within the sector will be required to work years to earn the average monthly income of a principal or vice-chancellor, it can only reinforce the message that it is the 1% which is valued within the sector.”
The issue of an alleged shortfall in pay for Dundee University female staff members has left union members feeling particularly irked.
Ian explained: “Within the University of Dundee there’s quite a big pay-gap between female staff and male staff-about £4000 to £5000 for lecturing staff.
“At the minute that pay gap is still there and the universities, nationally, aren’t doing anything about it.
“After tomorrow’s two day national strike we’ll be working to contract.
“Most of our staff work more than a 37 hour week, but what we’re asking staff at the University of Dundee to do is to keep to 37 hours to actually show that we’re working a lot of the time for no extra money, that the university is being run on goodwill.”
West-end councillor Richard McCready also attended the protest to show his support for the striking staff.
The Labour representative said: “I think there are issues around pay and clearly issues around casualisation.
“There’s also the gender pay gap issue, which I think is a real issue.
“It’s important that the university speaks to the UCU.”
A spokesperson for Dundee University said: “The vast majority of staff across the University are at work as normal today and there has been minimal disruption to University business.
“Student exams which were scheduled for today have proceeded normally.”
