University strikes: Students barricade senior managers’ offices over ‘unlawful’ picket line warning Universities have been accused of using underhand tactics against striking staff

Students at the University of Liverpool barricaded the offices of senior management after being warned that joining their striking lecturers on picket lines was “unlawful”.

Members of the University and College Union are in the midst of an eight-day walk out at 60 universities nationwide over unstable pay and pension cuts.

Around one million students are impacted by the industrial action, with lectures and classes cancelled up and down the country.

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The fifth day of industrial action on Friday saw students in Liverpool blockade three entrances to the university’s Foundation Building, in response to an email sent by vice-chancellor Professor Gavin Brown to all students warning them against picketing.

‘Unlawful to join pickets’

It is one of several rows that have broken out between students backing their lecturers, and universities in the last week.

In the email, dated 22 November, Prof Brown wrote: “Please be aware that it is unlawful for students to join pickets.”

He added that attendance would be recorded and the university “will not give consideration at exam boards” for those who picket.

It also warned international students that they “risk jeopardising their visa” if they join the strike, sparking a backlash on social media.

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It prompted the group Liverpool Student-Staff solidarity to stage the protest, alongside lecturers. Cheche Spencer, a third year history and sociology student at the institution, said the university “threatened us with arrest & outnumbered us with security”.

‘Strong-arm tactics’

They issued a list of five demands to university bosses, including ending attendance monitoring, “correcting” the legal threat, ending a “hefty pay gap” and “casualisation of work” at the institution.

The row between UCU and vice-chancellors nationally centres on plans to increase employee pension contributions.

The UCU says staff will lose thousands of pounds across their careers, but universities insist they are increasing their own employer contributions from 18 per cent to 21.1 per cent, and point to an estimated deficit in the scheme of £5.4bn.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady decried a “serious lack of leadership” from universities over the dispute.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from students this week and it is quite clear that tactics employed by universities to threaten, confuse or intimidate them and staff have not worked,” she told i.

Liverpool University told i it is “committed” to supporting its students, and defended the email set to staff.

A spokesperson said: “We undertake regular monitoring of all undergraduate student attendance. This is not only to ensure we fulfil our duties on international student visas to UKVI, but is also vital as attendance is an important indicator of student wellbeing.

“We respect our students’ rights to support the industrial action, should they wish to do so. However it is important that they have the necessary information to do so lawfully. Whilst there are some good sources of information on this, including in UCU materials, we were made aware of inaccuracies from other sources which we sought to clarify.”

Backlash at other campuses

The University of Birmingham was criticised after provost and vice-principal Tim Jones told staff in an email that campus is “private land” so picketing is trespass. Demonstrators said they were moved by university officials.

More than 1,000 people – including 10 law professors – signed petition demanding Mr Jones either withdraw his claim or explain its legal basis, and allow demonstrators to freely share their views.

Elsewhere Sheffield Hallam University drew criticism for sending students a web form asking them to report lectures not taking place, which they said was an attempt to “spy” on staff.

The strikes are set to continue until 4 December, with UCU members then launching an indefinite work-to-rule period where they will stick rigidly to their contract.

A spokesperson for Birmingham University said: “We have worked with UCU’s designated picket supervisor during the current industrial action and pickets have been held every day at the locations agreed with UCU, which are at all of the main entrances to campus.

“There is a long tradition of pickets being held safely and peacefully at these locations by a number of unions. This is what they have proposed to do in line with the Government’s code of practice on picketing. This approach to the location of pickets being outside of premises is common across higher education and other sectors.”

A Sheffield Hallam spokesperson said the form is “one of a number of channels available to help us understand which sessions have not taken place,” adding: “We have put in place a number of measures to help ensure that we have the clearest possible picture of any activities impacted. This will enable us to make alternative arrangements where required, in order to ensure that student learning opportunities are maintained.”