ACADEMICS at Bournemouth University began their eight days of striking yesterday and say that 90 per cent of students backed them.

Lecturers campaigned with students on picket lines outside Poole Gateway and it marks the largest strike since the branch began with more than 360 members.

Marian Mayer, Senior Lecturer at the university, said: “We have four claims in our strike and principally it’s about equality.

“At Bournemouth University men are paid 15 per cent more than women for doing the same job and it’s been that way for a very long time.

“For four years the UCU (University and College Union) have been working with the university to try and close that gender pay gap and it hasn’t happened.

“If the vice chancellor is worth over £330,000 a year, then we can be worth at least a decent pay rise. We’re just asking for pay rises above inflation rates.”

The strikes are also focussing on improving job security for staff, ensure they have fair workloads and are paid fairly.

Marian continued: “More than 50 per cent of academics in the sector are on part-time or causal contracts. I was speaking to a colleague earlier who is paid for two and a half days a week, but he actually has a workload for five days a week.”

“Students are saying to us ‘you look really tired are you okay?’ Our working conditions are their learning conditions.”

Charlie Nixon, 20, a third-year environmental science student, said: “It’s important that we show solidarity with our lecturers.

“If they’re not treated well, we’re not going to get the best learning that we could possibly get.

“Obviously there’s valuable contact time I’m losing, but this is the last thing the lecturers wanted to come to.

“As it stands, I am in full solidarity with them and if that means missing a week or so of education, well so be it.

“Students, on the whole, are very supportive of their lecturers and they understand the values and why they’re striking.”

Sadie Fulton, 30, a masters student in political psychology, said: "I support what their cause it. I think it's atrocious that there's a gender pay gap. They're being worked harder and harder and harder and jobs are being lost.

"Having lecturers that are in this position undermines the value of the studies that I'm doing. I want my lecturers to be inspired and come from that place of having a thirst for knowledge.

Bournemouth University released a statement which read: “This is a national dispute, voted for by UCU members, and any resolution needs to be dealt with at a national level.

“We are working hard to minimise disruption on campus during the strike action, putting students at the centre of our plans to ensure minimal impact to student experience.”