Falmouth University staff start three-day strike in Cornwall

Those who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) will walk out for three consecutive days from Monday, October 17 until Wednesday,19 to defend colleagues who they say will not receive the same employment conditions under the subsidiary company – and which they claim is the management's creation of a two-tier workforce.

Kate Lockett (Image: Kate Lockett)

The protest has come after 90% of members voted in favour of striking to protect terms and conditions for all academic staff at the university.

The three-day strikes are taking place at the Falmouth University campus in Penryn and at the campus in Woodlane, Falmouth. More than 20 people are protesting at the campus in Penryn and around 12 to 15 members of staff protesting at the Woodlane Campus.

Those striking say the new conditions have already affected members' employment terms, which sees new academic staff who have been employed since September 2021 denied access to the TPS, which stands for the Teachers' Pension Scheme, and instead are provided with a private pension.

The TPS scheme has employer contributions of 23.6% whereas the FSL scheme starts at only 6%. 

Kate Lockett (Image: Kate Lockett)

Falmouth UCU branch co-chair Tom Scott said: "Our members are not taking industrial action lightly.

"These current conditions are affecting working conditions for staff and students and is a harsh impact on university representatives to employ staff and ultimately affect the student experience.

"While the initial impact on staff hired in this way is that they are deprived of the right to join the Teachers' Pension Scheme, the longer-term impacts are just as serious if not more so. These include loss of continuity of service rights that staff properly employed by universities build up, including the right to maternity leave and sick leave."

However, the university has denied there will be any difference to other terms and conditions, or rights beyond pension eligibility, compared with existing staff. 

A representative from Falmouth University told the Packet: "It is deeply regrettable that strike action is going ahead.

"It's important to be clear that our new pension scheme is highly competitive with employer contribution rates much higher than the UK average. We also believe that the scheme for new starters enables us to provide a flexible pensions offer.

"There will be no differences to other terms and conditions, trade union recognition, or rights beyond pension eligibility compared with existing staff. 

"The university is disappointed that this was announced and will have an impact on students, while it has made clear its willingness to enter constructive negotiations to resolve this local dispute."

Staff at the Woodlane campus, Falmouth. Credit: Kate Lockett (Image: Kate Lockett)

There will be events throughout the three-day strike, which included an opening talk from Falmouth UCU at The Cornish Bank on Monday, as well as practical workshop on the protest sign through history at The Cornish Bank and an open mic event where people were asked to bring a song, a poem, a speech, a short sketch.  

Tomorrow (Tuesday) there will be picket lines at both campuses between 8am and 10am. At 1pm there will be a Penryn promenade which involves walks and educational and imaginative talks around Penryn, and a celebration of Penryn's long history of progressive education. This event starts at 1pm and people are being asked to meet at Glasney College Field, Penryn.

Between 2pm and 3.30pm the UCU National Event sees Democratising Education, and Green New Deal workshops online - booking is said to be essential.

Wednesday's strike will start with picket lines at both campuses from 8am until 10am and then again from 4pm to 6pm. Events have been scheduled for this day but are yet to be confirmed.