When are the university strikes? March 2023 dates and affected universities

UCU strikers on the picket line — UCU workers are suspending strikes for two weeks (Picture: Guy Smallman/Getty Images)

Workers in various industries have been going on strike, with the widespread industrial action seen last year continuing into 2023.

Alongside the nurses, ambulance workers and train workers walking out of work in respective disputes over pay and terms and conditions are staff in universities – as a row continues over pay, high workloads and pensions.

But on February 17, University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady announced that some of the upcoming strikes will not go ahead, as ‘we have reached a point is discussions with our employers where we have made significant progress across a range of issues.’

Grady added: ‘But we want to make it absolutely clear that this is simply a pause.

‘We have agreed to pause action across our pay and working conditions and USS pensions disputes for the next two weeks and create a period of calm.’

So, just when are the next university strikes, and which institutions are set to be affected?

Here’s all you need to know.

When are the university strikes in February 2023?

There are numerous strike dates planned for February and March 2023 – but the strike scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday February 21 has been called off.

UCU union strike — UCU members joined teachers and workers in other industries on a major strike on February 1, with more pencilled in (Picture: Guy Smallman/Getty Images)

But according to the UCU website, ‘all the action scheduled after these dates remains in place’.

The UCU lists the following March dates:

Upcoming university strike days, as per UCU’s website

Thursday, March 16
Friday, March 17
Monday, March 20
Tuesday, March 21
Wednesday, March 22

The industrial dispute is ongoing and, while the strike dates are correct at the time of writing, it’s important to check with your university and the UCU website for any last-minute updates should progress be made.

Strike action also took place earlier this month, on Wednesday, February 1, when around 70,000 staff from 150 universities walked out, and on February 9 and 10.

On February 9, UCU shared in a news bulletin that it and four other unions – EIS, GMB, Unison and Unite – would engage in further talks with UCEA, mediated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), from February 13 onwards.

Ms Grady said in a statement: ‘We are pleased the employers have agreed to enter the [ACAS] process in order to try and resolve our dispute.

‘The union has been clear, we need an offer that addresses the key issues affecting our members – specifically on casualisation and workloads. We haven’t had that yet. The sector has more than enough money to pay and treat people fairly, and employers have the power to do so.’

UCU (University and College Union) picket sign at University College London — UCU members last took to picket lines on February 1, 9 and 10 (Picture: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

According to the UCU website’s full list, the following institutions are being affected by upcoming strikes.

They are:

Full list of universities affected by strikes, as per UCU’s website

Aberdeen, The University of
Abertay University
Aberystwyth University
Anglia Ruskin University
Arts University Bournemouth
Aston University
Bangor University
Bath Spa University
Bath, University of
Bedfordshire, University of
Birkbeck, University of London
Birmingham, The University of
Bishop Grosseteste University
Bolton, The University of
Bournemouth University
Bradford, University of
Brighton, University of
Bristol, University of
Brunel University
Buckinghamshire New University
Cambridge, University of
Canterbury Christ Church University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff University
Central Lancashire, University of
Chester, University of
Chichester, University of
City, University of London
Courtauld Institute of Art
Coventry University
Cranfield University
Cumbria, University of
De Montfort University
Derby, University of
Dundee, The University of
Durham University
East Anglia, University of
East London, University of
Edge Hill University
Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh, University of
Essex, University of
Exeter, University of
Falmouth University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow, University of
Gloucestershire, University of
Goldsmiths, University of London
Greenwich, University of
Harper Adams University
Heriot-Watt University
Hertfordshire, University of
Huddersfield, The University of
Hull, The University of
Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
Keele University
Kent, The University of
King’s College London
Kingston University
Lancaster, University of
Leeds Arts University
Leeds Beckett University
Leeds Trinity University
Leeds, The University of
Leicester, University of
Lincoln, University of
Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA)
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Liverpool, University of
London Metropolitan University
London School of Economics
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
London South Bank University
Loughborough University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester, The University of
Middlesex University
Newcastle University
Newman University
Northampton, The University of
Northumbria University
Norwich University of the Arts
Nottingham, The University of
Open University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford, University of
Plymouth Marjon University
Plymouth, University of
Portsmouth, University of
Queen Margaret University
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen’s University Belfast
Reading, University of
Robert Gordon University
Roehampton University
Rose Bruford College
Royal Academy of Music
Royal Agricultural University
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal College of Art
Royal College of Music
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Ruskin College Salford, The University of
SAMS at University of the Highlands and Islands
Senate House, University of London
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield, The University of
SOAS, University of London
Solent University
South Wales, University of
Southampton, University of
St Andrews, University of
St George’s, University of London
St Mary’s University College, Belfast
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Staffordshire University
Stirling, The University of
Stranmillis University College
Strathclyde, University of
Suffolk, University of
Sunderland, University of
Surrey, University of
Sussex, University of
Swansea University
Teesside, University of
Trinity Laban
UCA University for the Creative Arts
Ulster University
University College Birmingham
University College London
University of the Arts London
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Warwick, University of
West London, University of
West of England, University of the
West of Scotland, University of the
Westminster, University of
Winchester, The University of
Wolverhampton, University of
Worcester, University of
Wrexham Glyndwr University
Writtle University College
York, University of
York St John University

Check with your university or on the UCU website for the latest information on strikes and how they will affect your institution.

The UCU adds that almost all of the universities listed will be re-balloted between February 21 and March 31, 2023 – with the exception of universities in Northern Ireland, and members at Open University with workplaces in Northern Ireland.

MORE : When is the next teacher strike? February and March 2023 dates

MORE : When is the junior doctors strike and why are they walking out?

MORE : All strikes planned for March 2023 – from trains to teachers

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