Staff at 150 UK universities begin three days of strikes

Staff from Soas and Birkbeck, University of London, at the picket line on Monday. Photograph: Sinai Noor/Rex/Shutterstock

Universities in the UK have been hit by strike action once again, despite hopes of a breakthrough last week with an offer from employers on pay, working conditions and pensions.

Tens of thousands of staff at 150 universities pressed ahead with planned strikes on Monday in the first of three days of industrial action this week, with many branches claiming big turnouts on picket lines.