University staff are determined to press their claim for higher pay, a union representative has said.
Janice Aitken, president of Dundee University’s branch of the UCU academics’ union, was speaking as pickets protested outside universities across the country in a second one-day stoppage.
The UCU, Unite and Unison unions were involved in the first strike in October and were joined by the EIS.
Abertay, St Andrews and Stirling universities were among those affected as academic and support staff walked out.
“We had pickets out from 7.30am and it has been well supported,” Ms Aitken said. “The campus has been quiet and very few people have crossed the picket line.
“We have also had support from passers-by tooting horns and waving. We are quite pleased with the way it has gone.”
Ms Aitken said staff remained convinced of the need to keep putting pressure on the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask the employers to come back to the table with a better offer than 1%. If you value higher education, you have got to value the people who deliver it,” she said.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The employers do not seem to understand the effect that four years of sub-inflationary pay rises have on their staff.
“Members literally cannot afford to go on like this and that is why we have joined our three sister unions and colleagues in taking concerted action to pursue our claim for fair pay.”
A UCEA spokesperson said the strike had caused very limited disruption and accused the unions of trying to “string out” the dispute despite a pay offer that was sustainable, fair and final.
When taking into account incremental increases and contribution pay, the real increase in wage costs was 3%.
The spokesperson said: “The trade unions are continuing to press for unaffordable increases that would push pay costs even higher than the 3% already committed, and put jobs at risk.
“Institutions value their staff highly and already offer excellent pay and conditions but they are also concerned to safeguard jobs and will continue to protect students.
“Industrial action that tries to damage the student experience is always disappointing to employers.
“UCEA still remains willing to discuss the other important aspects of the trade unions’ claim, having already offered joint work on the gender pay gap and on hourly paid and casual work.”
An Abertay University spokesman said the strike had had limited impact.
“All buildings, facilities and administrative offices remained open and functioned normally,” he added.