Lecturers at the University of Worcester join a nationwide strike action
The University and College Union will take 18 days of industrial action in February and March
Lecturers at the University of Worcester are among the thousands of academic staff on strike today over pay and working conditions.
Dr. Daniel Eastough is the Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Worcester and said: "Essentially, we have seen pay fall by 25% since 2009".
He added: "On average nationally staff on 37 hours contract a week, (are) working up to 50+ hours."
The UCU said 150 UK universities will be hit by strikes across February and March, with a total of 70,000 members walking out.
The large scale walkout by lecturers will disrupt students', how had to deal with covid disruptions as well.
However, Dr. Eastough said: "Students will be impacted, but what is really important to know is that these strike actions are fully supported by the National Union of Students and our local student union."
The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), representing 144 employers, said it has made a "full and final pay offer".
The UCEA offered university staff a pay rise of between 5% and 8%.
It said the offer prioritises the disproportionate effect of high inflation falling on the lower paid, with a minimum of 5% for all other members of staff.
This offer was described as the highest uplift in nearly 20 years.