LECTURERS at 60 universities walked out on strike for eight days today over attacks on pay, pensions and working conditions.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) mounted picket lines across the country.

The action is expected to spread as staff at more universities ballot. According to the UCU, 3,500 new members have joined the union since lecturers voted for strike action three weeks ago.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner called on university authorities to “put students first and bring a reasonable offer to the negotiating table.”

UCU welcomed the intervention and warned that if universities fail to make improved offers, further strikes could follow in the new year, with even more staff taking part.

Ms Rayner addressed a rally of strikers in Oxford Road, Manchester, today.

The strikes have been sparked by two disputes: an attack on the universities’ pension scheme; and pay, equality, casualisation and workloads.

Higher education is the worst employment sector in Britain for exploitation of employees through zero-hours contracts and insecure employment.

UCU says that a third of academic staff are on fixed-term contracts, where lecturers have no idea whether or not they will be employed next term.

The union says pay has fallen by 25 per cent in real terms since 2010, leaving lecturers on £7,000 a year less than teachers.

After the strike ends on December 4, lecturers will work strictly to their contracts, which will mean refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We have been receiving news of solid support for the strikes across the UK.

“That support sends a clear message to universities that staff will not settle for pay cuts, increased pension costs or deteriorating conditions.

“We agree with Angela Rayner that universities should be putting students first and coming back to us with a better offer to try and avoid further disruption.

“We have seen thousands of people join the union in the few weeks since we announced this round of strikes and, if universities continue to refuse to negotiate seriously, more action with even more people involved could be on the cards.”