UNIVERSITY staff have once again set up picket lines in Winchester as they strike over low pay and poor working conditions. 

This is the second day of action at the University of Winchester, following a busy day on Thursday, November 24.

The strikes are taking place across the country and see members of trade unions University College Union (UCU) and UNISON walk out citing insufficient pay and working conditions.

The strikes have resulted in cancelled lectures for students, with over 2.5 million being affected around the country.

READ MORE: University staff strikes: UNISON and UCU members action in Winchester

Stuart Evans, a philosophy student at the University of Winchester, said that seeing his lecturers in this position gives him little incentive to work hard for his degree.

He said: “The lecturers are the ones who are providing our education, and the quality of living conditions that they’re having to put themselves in to provide that education to us, it doesn’t match up with the expectation that fosters a happy learning environment.”

Dr Simon Boxley, branch secretary for the University of Winchester UCU was among university staff on the picket lines.

Other members of staff on strike had told the senior lecturer of education that they had multiple jobs to fund their lifestyles during the cost-of-living crisis.

He said: “Even I was shocked, there were people talking to me who are leading undergraduate programmes, living in shared accommodation, having multiple jobs.

"One of whom had two more jobs, one as a cleaner and an events organiser. They’re going home from running an undergraduate programme during the day, to work as a cleaner in the evening, in order to live in a shared flat in Winchester. That’s staggering.”

SEE ALSO: Hampshire: Royal Mail staff strike over pay and working conditions

As a result of the current strikes, the national employer has contacted all vice-chancellors of UK universities to ask if their institution would support bringing forward next year’s pay settlement to February.

The unions intend to ask Sarah Greer, Vice-chancellor of Winchester university, how she will respond to this proposal as they claim they have had no response from her yet.

The strikes will continue at the University of Winchester entrances on Wednesday 30th November too.