University staff across Liverpool and Merseyside have walked out for the first of three days of strike action today.
In Liverpool, striking staff from all the city's universities gathered and marched around the city centre. Staff are striking over working conditions, pensions and pay.
The University and College Union (UCU) says more than 70,000 staff will be taking part in the strikes, which also take place tomorrow (Friday) and next Wednesday.
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Striking staff and union members were seen marching along Church Street today, before gathering in Derby Square. Another protest was held outsider the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady called it "the biggest strike action in the history of higher education", with the union estimating that 2.5 million students could be affected .The UCU is demanding a pay rise of inflation (RPI) +2%, or 12%, whichever is higher, as well as an end to zero and temporary contracts and action to tackle "excessive workloads".
In a statement on its website, the University of Liverpool told students: "The industrial action being called by UCU is a collective UK-wide action which means that we are unable to negotiate or attempt to resolve the dispute as an individual institution. Please be assured that the University has robust measures in place to help protect students in the event of disruption."
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