University strikes in Edinburgh: why universities are striking, which ones are taking part and all the UCU strike dates

University staff are striking over pay and changes to pension schemes (PA Media)

The University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and Queen Margaret University are among the participating schools, who will strike over the course of four weeks.

Staff from 74 universities across the UK will walk out for 14 days spread across February and March, culminating in a week-long walkout from March 9 to March 13.

Spearheaded by the University and College Union (UCU), the strikes could bring disruption for millions of students.

Strikes over the same issues took place in November and December of 2019.

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The action hinges on two main disputes: one relating to pensions and the other to pay and work conditions.

A series of changes made to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) since 2011, means that staff are paying more into their pensions, but ultimately missing out on tens of thousands of pounds, according to the UCU.

According to the UCU, a typical member of the scheme will pay around £40,000 more into their pension, but receive nearly £200,000 less in retirement leaving - this would leave them £240,000 worse off in total.

Members are also striking over the decline in value of staff pay.

According to Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), pay of staff has dropped by around 17% in real terms since 2009.

The UCU claim that staff pay has actually fallen by 20% in that time, as pay awards in higher education have resulted in a cumulative increase of 11%, but in the same time period the RPI (retail price index) has increased by 31.8%.

When are the strikes?

Fourteen days of strikes will take place over four weeks in February and March.

Week one: February 20 and 21

Week two: February 24 to 26

Week three: February 2 to 5

Week four: February 9 to 13.

Full list of Scottish universities affected

Heriot-Watt University

The University of Dundee

The University of Stirling

The University of Edinburgh

The University of Glasgow

The University of St Andrews

The University of Strathclyde

The University of Aberdeen

Glasgow Caledonian University (P&C)

Glasgow School of Art (P&C)

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (P&C)

Scottish Association of Marine Science (USS Pensions dispute only)