'The fight for fair pay continues'

Unite members employed by Leeds University went out on strike this week from Monday (August 14) to Friday (August 18). In the joint strike action with Unison, the striking staff are demanding that their employer come back to the negotiating table for the 2023-24 pay round. They’re asking employers to look not only at pay, but other related issues such as the national pay spine, workloads, casualisation and equality pay gaps.

The strike is part of a national dispute with UCEA, the national association of university employers, of which Leeds University is a member. Strikes this week were held to coincide with A-level results and the clearing process.

Unite national officer Andy Murray (pictured below) attended the picket line this week and addressed striking staff.

“I congratulated Unite and Unison members on their brave strike action,” he told UniteLive. “We will not let up until employers get back round the negotiating table. The fight for a fair pay rise for 2023-24 continues.”

Below are highlights from the picket line in photos.

By Hajera Blagg

Photos by Tom Heslop, Jo Westerman and Romain Cames (Unite chair and vice chair of Leeds University branch)