Talks delayed as employers say unions must halt strikes

Ucea warns of missed opportunity over negotiations on non-pay issues

Employers have warned higher education unions that the window for a resolution to long-running industrial action could close if the parties do not agree a way forward on issues including workload, contracts and equality gaps for pay. University bosses have also made pausing strike action a condition of talks.

On 23 March, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) said: “It will be deeply regrettable if this opportunity slips away…Ucea remains ready to begin talks on the understanding that no further industrial action, including [action short of a strike], is called during these talks”.