At least 70,000 university staff across 150 UK universities are set to go on strike over pay, working conditions and pensions.

This is the latest addition to the wave of industrial action taking place across the UK this winter due to the rise in cost of living.

The University and College Union has announced that they have planned a national strike which will be held on 24, 25 and 30 November.

The union estimated that around 2.5 million students would be affected by the action but said "disruption can be avoided if employers act fast and make improved offers. If they dont strike, action will escalate in the new year alongside a marking and assessment boycott."

The university strikes are said to be the largest ever in the higher education sector.

Jo Grady, the UCU general secretary, said:

"Campuses across the UK are about to experience strike action on a scale never seen before. Seventy thousand staff will walk out and make clear they refuse to accept falling pay, cuts to pensions and insecure employment.

"This is not a dispute about affordability – it is about choices. Vice-chancellors are choosing to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of pounds whilst forcing our members on to low-paid and insecure contracts that leave some using food banks. They choose to hold billions in surpluses whilst slashing staff pensions."

"If university vice-chancellors don't get serious, our message is simple – this bout of strike action will be just the beginning."

UCUs strike demands include a pay rise that takes into account the cost-of-living crisis, after they received a 3% increase this year. They have also called for an end to insecure contracts. Regarding pensions, UCU wants employers to reverse the cuts imposed this year which it claims will see the average member lose about 35% from future retirement income.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said there was "disappointment" across the sector at the decision.

"Any threats of industrial action will do nothing to support students, staff or the many higher education institutions working hard to avoid redundancies or maintain staffing levels, having delivered the August pay uplift," Jethwa said.

"UCU needs to provide its members with a realistic and fair assessment of what is achievable before encouraging strike action directed at students once again. UCEA and its member HE institutions always seek to work with UCU and other trade unions to support staff and students and to avoid any unfair disruptive action."

Universities UK, which represents employers under the University Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension fund, said: "We appreciate this could be a difficult time for students, who may be anxious about possible disruption to their learning.

"Universities are well prepared for industrial action and will put in place a series of measures to protect students' education, as well as other staff and the wider community."

The group said it was already working with UCU on the USS's valuation and regulation, as well as "low-cost options for employees who want more flexible pension contributions".

"It is important to remember that USS pensions remain among the most generous in the private sector. Employer payments have risen to 21.6% of salary, which is far higher than most other schemes, UUK's spokesperson said.