It’s all kicking off, again

UCU announces eight days of strikes, while the Smith report is one of several released

It was a busy afternoon in Playbook towers yesterday as the news desk sounded a “calling all cars” klaxon, to cope with the volume of reports released by the government in advance of the parliamentary shutdown. And this was before the University and College Union (UCU) declared eight days of industrial action in 60 universities.

First things first, let’s deal with the anticipated news from the union’s higher education committee. In the absence of a negotiated settlement by 25 November, UCU members will walk out from 60 UK universities until 4 December.