Tom McDonald president, AUT, Scotland

Our concern is the pay offer and the terms and conditions attached to that pay offer. We believe this will lead to variable pay throughout the higher education sector. In terms of pay, we're looking for a lot more than we've been offered. At the moment the offer is a two-year deal at 3.44% and 3% next year. That's a pay increase which barely matches inflation. We have submitted an application for a 28% increase phased in over a three-year period.

Alison Britton law lecturer, Caledonian University, Glasgow

We're hoping to show there should be more value given to the jobs we do. Our jobs have been devalued over the past 30 to 40 years and unless you show some resistance to that then you won't get respect from the rest of the population. This isn't about an exact figure, it's more about recognition of where we sit alongside other professional areas. My message to the government is to look at the education provision and those who provide that education.

Renee Prendergast management and economics lecturer, Queen's University, Belfast

Today's action is primarily about pay and pay structures. Over the last 20 years or so, our productivity has increased immensely but our pay has remained more or less the same, whereas average earnings have gone up by about 40%. The present pay deal we were being offered doesn't address these issues at all and apart from that the new pay model means that we would go more slowly up the scale, so that people would lose out substantially. The current pay offer actually makes things worse.

Ruth Fletcher exchange visitor, Keele University

I am behind the strike today because of poor pay and poor working conditions and poor morale among staff. This contributes to the worsening of the education environment. I am against the general trend at the moment towards privatisation and less funds going towards education. I want to take a stand and support my union - in these days when there are attacks on trade unions - and to take a stand against what is happening in terms of poor resources going to staff and to the university in general.

Julian Warner School of Management and Economics, Queen's University

We are concerned about the low salaries of university lecturers and the possible separation of academic-related and lecturers for career progression. People are strongly committed to the cause in support of the action. Some students might be shocked at the low salaries of lecturers, which are broadly comparable to what they would expect on graduation in some disciplines.

Sara Delamont sociology reader, Cardiff University

I'm lucky, my mortgage is paid off and I don't have any dependents. There was someone on the picket line whose wife is about to have their first baby. I don't know how anyone can live on a lecturer's salary. It's absurd. The student workload has doubled in the last 20 years. It can't go on, because there won't be anyone to teach the students. Our generation will all retire at once.

Chris Yewlett transport and planning lecturer, Cardiff University

The prime minister has acknowledged on television that pay levels for academics are unacceptable. I feel disappointed we have got to this point. The university system is supposed to be rational but it does not want to discuss it. We cannot go on with the universities saying there is no money and the government saying it's down to the universities to sort out. You can't ask the staff to pay for the university sector by foregoing their pay.

Maire Messenger-Davies media studies lecturer, Cardiff University

The strike is a show of feeling - there does not seem to be any other way. The pay proposals are unjust. They are just not fair. You have to give people financial incentives if you want a vibrant educational sector. When we ask our brighter students if they want to stay on and do a PhD, and perhaps leave with debts of �20,000, they say 'are you kidding?'. Of course nobody likes to strike, to upset their students and their colleagues but we have been forced into this position.

Howard Williamson social sciences lecturer, Cardiff University

Many people have a view of academic life that is out of date. The government is trying to encourage universities to be centres of life-long learning. It's a pretty demanding set of tasks for staff. If you are going to encourage research, and the getting of grants, it's a very demanding set of challenges.

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