UNIVERSITY of Cumbria staff will join a national two-day strike this week. 

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are striking on Wednesday and Thursday because of a dispute over pay. 

Staff will be on the picket line at the Fusehill Street Campus in Carlisle from 7.45am.

They are striking following a 1.1 per cent pay offer from Universities and Colleges Employers Association.

UCU said universities could afford to pay more and the latest offer did little to address the real terms pay cut of 14.5 per cent that members have seen since 2009.

Regional official, Iain Owens, said: "A 1.1 per cent pay offer is particularly insulting when we know vice-chancellors have just had over 5 per cent. University staff can no longer put up with the continued squeeze on their income. 

"After six years of pay cuts and constant demands to do more for less, staff have said enough is enough."

From Wednesday onwards UCU members will also begin working to contract, meaning they will refuse to work overtime, set additional work or do any voluntary duties like covering classes for absent colleagues.