University staff strike in row over pay, pensions and conditions

Staff at some universities across the south have begun three days of strike action in a dispute over pay and pensions.

Walkouts are happening at 58 institutions across the country. In our region, the universities of Sussex, Brighton, and Reading are refusing to teach in protest.

Many students have only returned to face to face learning this term following 18 months of disruption.

• One lecturer says many staff are on short term contracts and their workloads are 'unsustainable'.

The University and College Union say there are strong feelings around the issues they are protesting about, which include cuts to pensions and unsustainable workloads. Some students affected are feeling shortchanged after enduring 18 months of online learning because of the pandemic.

However, others are supporting the industrial action, saying if staff are overworked and stretched then their education suffers too. 

ITV Meridian's Social Affairs Correspondent Christine Alsford looks at the impact that industrial action is having on students.

The union organising the walkouts has warned of further strikes next year.Employers say they are disappointed the action is going ahead and they are doing all they can to mitigate the effect on students.