STAFF at 140 universities across the UK are to strike for five days later this month in the long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.

The University and College Union (UCU) said its members at 136 universities will walk out for five consecutive days from September 25.

Strikes will hit four Scottish universities on slightly different dates to coincide with local action by other unions.

The union also announced it had withdrawn its marking and assessment boycott which started in April.

The UCU said it will begin reballoting its members at universities over industrial action, warning this will allow it to escalate the dispute by taking further action this year and into 2024.

Staff are continuing other forms of industrial action, including working to rule, not undertaking any voluntary activities, and not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action.

The union said an imposed pay rise for this year was worth 5 per cent for most of its members.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We are left with no option but to strike during the start of term because our members refuse to stand by while pay is eroded and staff are shunted onto gig-economy contracts."