Budget day strikes hit science facilities across the UK

Tens of thousands of scientists, engineers and other technical specialists staged a UK-wide walkout on Wednesday as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, redundancy and working conditions. The Prospect trade union, which represents public and private sector workers in science, technology and service positions, declared the day-long strike following an unprecedented 80% vote in favour of industrial action.

‘It’s a real barometer as to the sentiments of staff and how they feel treated by their organisations,’ says Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of Prospect. ‘What’s happening with inflation and our member’s earnings is not an aberration. It’s the rapid acceleration of a trend that’s been in place for more than a decade.’ Public servants, including those working for UKRI, the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency have experienced real-term pay cuts of 26% since 2010 , faring significantly worse than other areas of the public sector. ‘The government [also] announced that they want to reduce headcount by one in five – around 91,000 staff – and at the same time, they want to reduce redundancy terms,’ says Graham. ‘These issues have come together and been a flashpoint. There is now real anger and frustration amongst our members who feel they are taken for granted.’