CUSU Council voted tonight to pass a motion to support upcoming industrial action by the University and College Union (UCU) aimed at ensuring fair and equal pay for staff. The motion was passed with 45 votes in favour, six against and nine abstentions.

The approved motion states that “if the ballot is successful CUSU will support staff in strike action”, and that provisions will be made “to mitigate the negative impact of disruption on students while not undermining industrial activity”.

The ballot for the proposed strikes will close on 22nd February, if the UCU votes in favour of industrial action with a high enough turnout. The strikes would be expected to take place during Easter Term.

Matt Kite, CUSU education officer, proposed the motion, arguing that students are directly impacted by the issues of staff pay, equality, workload and precarious contracts. Kite noted that staff within the UK higher education sector have suffered a cumulative pay cut of over 17% since 2009, and argued that the best way to support staff is through support of UCU’s decision to strike.

During the debate preceding the vote representatives voiced concerns that strike action would compromise the education and welfare of students. While some voiced support for UCU members’ concerns, they maintained that they could not encourage staff strikes. 

Last term, UCU members were balloted over further strike action. Turnout in Cambridge fell below the legally required threshold by 26 votes, although 79.6% of participating members voted in favour of industrial action. Cambridge UCU President Sam James has previously expressed confidence in the branch’s “more extended campaign” this term securing a high enough turnout.

The debate saw references to the strikes over academic pensions from February 2018 onwards. 40,000 members of staff across 64 higher education institutions went on strike, resulting in cancellations to lectures and seminars across the University.

After these strikes the University signed a memorandum of understanding stating that “a university is a collaborative relationship between staff and students and each benefits from the advancement of the other’s interests”. It was suggested by some that to not support the motion would be to undermine the memorandum of understanding.