University technicians gather in Wellington Square in Oxford, England, during a half-hour walkout to protest for a 40 percent wage increase. – Vintage Photograph

On March 8, 1979, around 200 technicians employed by the University of Oxford gathered in Wellington Square after walking out of their jobs for half an hour. The technicians, members of the ASTMS union, were protesting for a 40 percent wage increase, claiming that their salaries were significantly lower than their counterparts in other sectors, such as the health service, civil service, and local authorities. The University had offered a five percent pay rise, which the technicians rejected. The ASTMS branch stated that due to the low pay, technicians were leaving the University in large numbers, making it difficult to replace them.On March 8, 1979, around 200 technicians employed by the University of Oxford gathered in Wellington Square after walking out of their jobs for half an hour. The technicians, members of the ASTMS union, were protesting for a 40 percent wage increase, claiming that their salaries were significantly lower than their counterparts in other sectors, such as the health service, civil service, and local authorities. The University had offered a five percent pay rise, which the technicians rejected. The ASTMS branch stated that due to the low pay, technicians were leaving the University in large numbers, making it difficult to replace them.

Dimensions: 18.3 x 29.7 cm

IMS SKU: SCAN-NQOX-04926266

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OCR computer generated text:

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EX UNIV. Branch of ASTMS OXFORD University tech- nicians walked off their jobs for half an hour this morning as part of a cam- paign for a 40 per cent wage rise. Their action, which was locally organised, was designed to coincide with the latest round of pay negotiations with the Uni- versity. Before the negotiators went in, they staged a protest meeting outside the University administration offices in Wellington Square (pic- tured above). Mr John Kemp, the branch chairman of the union involved, ASTMS, said: “Our claim is for 40 per cent based on a short- Walkout by 8 MAR 1979. technicians fall in salaries compared with colleagues doing the same work in other sectors -technicians in the health service, civil service and local authorities.” He said the University had offered the technicians five per cent settlements. Since November, the union’s members have been working to rule. Barracked by nearby building workers, about 200 technicians gathered in Wellington Square follow- ing their walkout at 10.30 a.m. In a statement, the ASTMS branch said: “Because of the abysmally low highly-skilled pay, technicians are leaving the University in alarmingly large numbers, and it is pro- ving difficult to replace them. Meeting in 2nd 5cm Oxford SBALL 8 NA N WELLINGTON – 8 MAR 1979 HEAL University. 56% MAR 1979 89