A group of students at the University of Bath have backed their lecturers in strike action, with a broadside against the pay rise given to the institution's vice-chancellor.
Academic and support staff are going on strike on Tuesday over pay and conditions, saying the pay rise they have been offered amounts to a cut in real terms.
An open letter signed by more than 100 students says their tuition fees are now 'lining the pockets' of the Claverton Down campus's senior management, including VC Professor Glynis Breakwell.
And it has urged the campus student union to take a tougher line.
The letter – addressed to the student union – says: "The university has done much to promote the latest student satisfaction results. However, there are some statistics that it is much less vocal about. Our university is now among the worst in the country for low pay, pay inequality and job insecurity. We have more teaching and research staff on zero hour contracts, and more staff on minimum wage, than any other university in the country. We are also now in the top ten in the country for disparity between the highest and lowest paid salaries. As students, these 'achievements' shame us.
"The average salary for vice-chancellors in the UK is around £250,000. The vice-chancellor at Bath is paid more than £360,000. And yet, whilst most staff are being given a below inflation pay offer of just one per cent, the vice-chancellor and other high earners have been given a pay rise of almost ten per cent. It seems our increased tuition fees are lining the pockets of the university's senior management instead of rewarding the hard work of our academic and support staff."
The letter urges the union to join in picket protests, and to show solidarity with the striking staff.
"We, the undersigned, want to be proud of our university, but while there remain serious unresolved issues relating to staff pay and conditions, that is simply not possible. As students, and as members of the University of Bath Students' Union, we ask that you represent us and join our demand for staff to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve."
Union president Ellie Hynes said it was having an open meeting with the trades unions.
"The position of the students' union is to ensure that the 16,000 students we represent have all the information they need to understand the potential impact of the strike action and to be able to make a fully informed choice about getting involved.
"We are facilitating an open meeting (arranged by the trade unions) for students. This gives students an opportunity to understand why industrial action has been called, the potential impact on them and what the university is doing, especially if their studies are affected. We are promoting this meeting and providing information widely, so all students can find out why action is being taken and how they can get involved if they choose."
The university said the letter was a matter for the union.
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