A STRIKE has been called by University of Reading staff over a pay dispute.

Reading members of the University and College Union (UCU) will be out on the picket line on Wednesday morning in an attempt to disrupt the university's summer party and 90th anniversary celebration.

The action stems from discontent regarding a 1.1 per cent pay increase offer from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which the UCU has said is too little in the context of recent real wage pay cuts.

University of Reading UCU branch president Paul Hatcher said: “We are fighting for fair pay and that is why we’re boycotting the university’s staff celebration.

“What have staff got to celebrate when they’ve suffered a real-terms pay cut of 14.5 per cent since 2009?

“We’re also taking a stand against the increasing use of insecure contracts which are undermining the academic role, and against the insidious pay inequality that sees many women earning less than men for the same work.”

The squeeze on staff salaries is in contrast to vice-chancellors pay, which has risen 6.1 per cent pay hike.

The strike comes against a national back drop of discontent in which UCU members voted to escalate protests at their annual conference in Liverpool at the beginning of June.

Members across the country plan to disrupt open days, graduation ceremonies and key university processes and meetings.

Dr John McKeane, a French lecturer at the university, said: “Lecturers should strike in order to get a fair pay offer.

“Pay has declined in real terms over the last 10 or 15 years.”

Dr McKeane vowed to help put an end to casualisation.

“I spent eight years on short term badly paid contracts. It's an extremely destabilising experience and one that has very harmful effects on people's lives and relationships,” he added.

A University of Reading spokesman said: “Pay awards for University of Reading staff are negotiated nationally between the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association and the respective unions.

“Any industrial action is disappointing.

“Our summer celebration is for all staff to come together at the end of the academic year. No-one has to come, but it’s a shame if some people felt they couldn’t come due to a dispute about pay.”