A GROWING occupation by students at Leeds University in support of lecturers fighting for better pay and conditions has come to an end after management agreed to meet with unions.

The occupations began on Monday last week when students took over the university’s council chamber.

Their action spread on Friday when activists expanded their occupation and took over the university’s finance offices and facilities directorate.

The students demanded that management stop cutting the wages of lecturers taking industrial action.

They accused the university of cutting wages by 100 per cent even when lecturers started a boycott of marking.

They also want the university authorities to make a statement in support of pay claims by lecturers and other campus staff.

The University and College Union (UCU) and public-sector union Unison are in nationwide dispute with universities over pay and other issues.

On Friday, occupiers handed letters to university managers.

One of the occupiers of the facilities directorate, a first year student named only as James, said: “We’ve spoken to the head of operations and an investment manager, and the responses were gutting, but exactly as you’d expect in an institution failing its staff and students.

“They were completely indifferent and told us they had no position on staff working conditions. 

“To have no position on Unison staff being forced to work two jobs and use foodbanks is abhorrent. This inhuman lack of empathy is what we are fighting against.”

However, the occupation came to end at the weekend after management agreed to meet with the UCU and Unison.

The occupiers have now left the buildings and joined with supporters at a daily rally, which have been held throughout the occupation.

A Leeds University statement said: “The university remains open to finding a resolution to this current period of industrial action, and many local actions are already under way in relation to the issues involved, including reducing the use of fixed-term contracts, reviewing our workload principles and modelling, and initiatives around equity, diversity and inclusion.

“Senior management and local UCU branch members had a positive discussion at a scheduled meeting, and we hope to continue talks in the coming days. 

“In the meantime, our priorities remain to protect the interests of students — including minimising any disruption to them, retaining the cohesion of our community and protecting the standard of Leeds degrees.”