Lecturers’ strike risks having a damaging effect on students with mental health problems, complaints watchdog warns – The Telegraph

A strike by university workers may adversely affect students with mental health problems, an official watchdog has warned.

Students and universities around the UK experienced a second day of disruption yesterday as workers joined an eight-day strike in rows over pay, conditions and pensions.

Up to 43,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) at 60 UK institutions are taking part in an action likely to affect around a million students in the run-up to the Christmas break.

Those going on strike include lecturers, student support services staff, admissions tutors, librarians, technicians and administrators.

Union leaders have insisted that a mass walkout is necessary to protest against the creeping marketisation of higher education.

But Felicity Mitchell, head of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, the independent reviewer of student complaints, warned that the lack of staff might cause problems for students with disabilities or mental health issues.

Many students will be very concerned about the impact that this industrial action will have on their studies, she said in a statement.

Not all students will be affected in the same way. For example some disabled students, some students with mental health issues, and some international students may be more severely affected.

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Lecturers' strike risks having a damaging effect on students with mental health problems, complaints watchdog warns - The Telegraph