Carla Denyer, the Green MP for Bristol Central, has offered us some encouraging words of support for our strike action this week:
“Solidarity with Unison workers at the University of Bristol, who are striking against a 3.4% real terms pay cut. Since 2009, higher education pay has lost around 28% of its value. Meanwhile, low-paid workers have borne the brunt of the crisis in higher education funding.
This strike is important for Bristol. University of Bristol workers make up a significant proportion of the city’s workforce – at 4.8%. I also have a personal connection to this issue – many of my friends either currently work in universities, or have left, due to unmanageable working conditions. Workloads can’t keep increasing while wages are dropping.
I’m proud to have supported striking University of Bristol workers since I was a local councillor, and to have joined them on picket lines across the years. I echo their demands: it’s time for University workers to be paid fairly.”
Many UoB branch members recall when Carla visited us on the picket lines in 2023, and how much her support was appreciated!