A striking journalism trainer has thanked his students for their support of him and his colleagues after the action disrupted their classes.

Falmouth University senior lecturer Andy Chatfield has paid tribute to his charges after members of the University and College Union at the institution undertook a three-day walkout over proposed new employment practices.

Falmouth lecturers, including those teaching journalism, have undertaken industrial action to defend the employment status of teaching staff employed through Falmouth Staffing Ltd, with the union saying employees will not receive the same conditions under the subsidiary company as those employed directly by the university.

Andy, 57, is a former deputy editor of the Oxford Mail who leads the BA (Hons) journalism and creative writing course.  The three-day strike took place between Mondya and Wednesday.

UCU members at Falmouth University including Andy Chatfield, second right, on the picket line

He told HTFP: “It has been really heartening to be joined by some of our students on the picket line and at the ‘teach-out’ events we are running at local venues.

“None of us like disrupting their studies and some only began their course last month, but they understand we are fighting for fairness and to ensure that the best lecturers and other staff are not deterred from working here by second-rate contracts.”

Those striking say the new conditions have already affected members’ employment terms, which sees new academic staff who have been employed since September 2021 denied access to the TPS, which stands for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, and instead are provided with a private pension.

All those eligible to strike, including Andy, are on contracts directly with the university rather than Falmouth Staffing Ltd.

He added: “We are by no means a militant workforce here but after many, many months of negotiations with the university we felt only a strike would communicate the anger and concern we feel over these new employment practices.

“They threaten the integrity of the university and would have serious implications for the whole sector if other institutions followed suit.”

A spokesman for the University told the Falmouth Packet, “It is deeply regrettable that strike action is going ahead.

“It’s important to be clear that our new pension scheme is highly competitive with employer contribution rates much higher than the UK average. We also believe that the scheme for new starters enables us to provide a flexible pensions offer.

“There will be no differences to other terms and conditions, trade union recognition, or rights beyond pension eligibility compared with existing staff.

“The university is disappointed that this was announced and will have an impact on students, while it has made clear its willingness to enter constructive negotiations to resolve this local dispute.”