Academics and university staff are set to strike for an additional day at the end of Lent term, on Wednesday 15th March.

The University and College Union (UCU) has called this day of strike action in addition to those already planned on Thursday 16th, Friday 17th, Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd March.

Strike action was put on hold for two weeks last month. This meant that strike action that was set to take place in Cambridge on weeks five, six and seven of Lent term was cancelled.

The additional day of strikes is taking place as a consequence of a partial breakdown in negotiations between the UCU and the employers representative (UCEA), which have been ongoing via the conciliation service Acas.

According to the UCU, the strike escalation is responding to the UCEA imposing the first parts of its pay offer despite unions never agreeing to it. The UCU say this move goes against terms of the agreement that brought about the pause of industrial action last month.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “I’m pleased to say that whilst Acas talks take place on a confidential basis, we are making progress across a range of subjects and will bring you more information as those talks come to a natural conclusion.”

Grady continued: “The employer chose to put out their pay offer and make it clear that it is final and that universities can implement the initial element of that pay offer. We need to be absolutely crystal clear; this is not a pay offer that has been agreed with us as a union, or any of the other unions involved in the negotiations.”

She concluded: “The reasons we’ve added this additional date is to focus the employers mind as talks come to a conclusion this week and especially early next week. They need to have on them the maximum amount of pressure.”