Queen’s University Belfast is being hit by 24 hour strike by lecturers and support staff

STAFF at Northern Ireland’s universities – Queen’s and the Ulster – have started a one-day strike on Thursday in a dispute over pay and work loads.

Academic and support staff who belong to the University and College Union and the UK’s biggest union, UNITE, will strike for one day over pay as part of a wide strike by the Unison union.

However, Queen’s University and the University of Ulster say all campuses will be open despite the dispute.

They have urged students to continue to come for class.

A statement from QUB said: “The position of the university is that it does not support strike action and will be taking all necessary steps to ensure that it is ‘business as usual’ on 31 October with minimal impact on students.”

Professor Mike Larkin from Queen’s said members of the UCU felt like they had little option but to strike.

“With inflation rising year on year and currently running at 3.3%, a final offer of 1% is insulting. Queen’s uses the slogan ‘We are exceptional’ – it is time they rewarded the whole staff that made it so,” he said.