UCU strike action planned from today at Ipswich-based University of Suffolk and other sites is called off

Seven days of university strikes over two weeks are not going ahead.

The University and College Union (UCU) has paused strike action over this week and next week after 'significant progress' was made across a range of issues.

The University of Suffolk, based in Ipswich, is one of the institutions where UCU members have been striking over pay and working conditions and pensions.

The following planned strike dates have been suspended: Tuesday, February 21, Wednesday, February 22, Thursday, February 23, Monday, February 27, Tuesday, February 28, Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 2.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "We have reached a point in discussions with our employers where we have made significant progress across a range of issues.

"To allow our ongoing negotiations to continue in a constructive environment we have agreed to pause action across our pay and working conditions and USS pensions disputes for the next two weeks and create a period of calm."

Strike action planned after this two-week pause is set to go ahead.

There has already been strike action affecting the University of Suffolk earlier this month and in November last year.