Welsh academics today claimed they were bringing university life in Wales to a standstill as lecturers and students kicked off a week of action against low pay and top-up fees.
The week of action by the Association of University Teachers against low academic salaries and the National Union of Students against top-up fees started in earnest today with picket lines springing up around all the major campuses in Wales.
English universities are due to close tomorrow, with a national strike on Wednesday and further strikes in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday.
Matt Waddup, the AUT official co-ordinating action outside Cardiff University, said 50 association members had formed a picket line around the university entrance, and he was getting reports that similar pickets were springing up at other campuses around Wales. He said it was a cold sunny morning, and that the mood among the striking lecturers was positive.
"The support is very, very strong," said Mr Waddup. "We're expecting all bar a few of our members to be striking today. Cardiff University is absolutely dead, there are no students on campus... It's a powerful start to the week of action. University life in Wales is grinding to a standstill."
The AUT's general secretary, Sally Hunt, is due to address a rally in Cardiff at 1pm along with the NUS president, Mandy Telford.
Ms Telford told EducationGuardian.co.uk: "Top-up fees is an important issue for Welsh students. The Welsh assembly has ruled them out until 2007, but with top-up fees in England there will be huge pressure for them to follow suit. Welsh students will also have to pay the fees to come in English institutions."
A spokeswoman for Cardiff University said support services at the university were running normally, but she was uncertain of the impact on lectures so far. Senior managers would be discussing progress at a meeting today, she added.
At other universities around Wales students and lecturers said they were united in their action.
At the University of Wales, Bangor most of the 290 AUT members were on strike, with around 25 people manning a picket line.
Sam Burnett, campaigns officer for the student union at Bangor, said on Wednesday students would be joining the national day of action by holding a "fake wake" to mark the death of free education. "On Wednesday we are having events in the students union with a wake for the death of higher education. There will be a coffin outside the students' union building."
Nick Bradley, president of the University of Wales, Swansea students' union, said it was the first time in a long while that both students and lecturers had walked out. The university recently announced it was closing five departments in a bid to redirect its resources.
"All services are shutting down on Wednesday and only 50% of classes are running today," said Mr Bradley.
"There is a picket line at the front of the university campus. About 50 academics have stayed at home, and we are turning away a lot of vehicles. On Wednesday we are going to block the entrance to university. There is going to be a demonstration that will march from the campus to the town. We will have some speakers and are hoping that some local politicians and councillors will come along."
However, Lucy Walters, president of student union at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, said that she had to battle with student apathy. "I'm hoping it's going to be an awareness day for my students."
She added: "I have a lot of problems getting my students to get out there and protest and take action. This will be a day when they realise what it actually means to them. We will encourage our students not to attend lectures."
A spokesman for the Welsh assembly said it was aware the action was taking place and said it would be conducting a review into the future of university funding.
