Queen's Uni Staff Stage One-Day Strike

Staff at Queen's University in Belfast are staging a one-day strike.

The action comes in a dispute over pay and has been organised by trade unions, the University and College Union (UCU) and Unite.

The unions have said that over the last four years, pay increases have been below inflation, and in real terms, this represents a cut in salary because staff – both academic and support – are being asked to do more with increasing student numbers.

The President of Queen's UCU, Professor Mike Larkin, is quoted as saying: "With inflation rising year on year and currently running at 3.3%, a pay offer of 1% was insulting.

"Queen's uses the slogan 'we are exceptional' - it is time they rewarded the ordinary staff that made it so."

Kevin Flanagan of Unite, added: "It's a disgrace, one minute they are preaching the need for economic responsibility, the next they are doling out thousands in bonuses to the senior management.

"Gas, electricity and oil just keep going up and our wages just keep getting squeezed."

Queen's University also issued a statement on the strike action, saying: "The position of the university is that it does not support strike action and is taking all necessary steps to ensure that it is business as usual with minimal impact on students.

"We are currently identifying any activity which is likely to be impacted by the strike action and, where this is known to us, we will notify students in advance via their university email account."

(JP/CD)