Students are facing yet more disruption to their learning today with more than 50,000 university staff beginning a three day strike.
Classes are being cancelled and services disrupted at universities due to the strike, which began today at 58 campuses up and down the country.
More than a million students, who have already faced huge disruption to their learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be impacted by the strikes.
University chiefs have blamed 'uncompromising hard left' union barons who they claim have made 'unrealistic demands' for a better pay and pension deal.
The University and College Union (UCU), who have organised the strikes, say staff are asking for the 'bare minimum'.
It comes as pictures today show university staff from the union on picket lines outside Birmingham University.
One person was seen carrying a placard with the phrase 'We're at breaking point', while another's sign said: 'This strike is brought to you courtesy of UoB senior management.'
Students are facing yet more disruption to their learning today with more than 50,000 university staff - including lecturers - beginning a three day strike. Pictured: A picket line at Birmingham University today
Classes are being cancelled and services disrupted at universities due to the strike, which began today at 58 campuses up and down the country. Pictured: Pickets outside a Cambridge University building
Pickets were also seen today outside Queen's University, Belfast, where strikes are also taking place
A picket line was also set up outside a University of Cambridge building earlier today.
Another group were seen holding a banner saying: 'The longer the picket... the shorter the strike.'
Pickets were also seen today outside Queen's University, Belfast, where strikes are also taking place.
Last night, Universities UK – which represents vice chancellors – said the pension demands were ‘unrealistic’ in their demands.
They said agreeing to the pay and pensions deal put forward by the UCU could lead to ‘insolvency’.
And they claimed the UCU campaign is 'nothing more than a smokescreen for their ideologically entrenched opposition to corporate finance’.
The group said lecturers who were walking out had been captured by the hard left faction of the Universities and College Union (UCU) - the UCU Left’ faction – which is affiliated
