University and College Union members on the picket line on Tuesday

UNIVERSITY staff kicked off an eight-day strike this week citing low pay and poor working conditions.

City and Islington College staff took to picket lines on Tuesday morning, and the Tribune spoke to those outside the university group’s Camden Road campus.

Mustafa Tarus, one of the striking workers, said: “Next week we will be on the picket lines all week and if no improvements are made afterwards we are going to go to our members and ask them what to do and escalate another strike.

“We are always worried about the students as the conditions we teach in reflect conditions our students learn in.

“They don’t want to be in class sizes of 25 or 26, and we want to make sure they have access to decent student services.

“We are not only fighting for ourselves but we are also fighting for our students and their education as well.”

Susan Malcolm, another striker, said: “I believe that in the current climate, fair pay for education should be something we are all aiming for.

“We want to encourage the next generation to come into education as I don’t think it is very attractive where it stands.”

A spokesperson for the Capital City College Group said: “The 2023/24 pay award for all CCCG staff ranged from 4 per cent to 9 per cent, with part of the award unconsolidated and the larger part consolidated.

“This action is primarily linked to workload, namely class sizes and the number of teaching weeks. We hope UCU will work more constructively with us to resolve these matters.”