UCU joins strike action over pension threats

UCU members in newer universities will mount a one-day strike on 30 June over 바카라사이트 government's plans to raise employee contributions, increase 바카라사이트 pension age and cut benefits in public sector schemes.

In post-1992 institutions, most academics are members of 바카라사이트 public Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), and administrators and support staff are members of 바카라사이트 various local government pension schemes.

Employers estimate that about 200,000 higher education staff are eligible for public sector schemes. The UCU balloted about 21,000 members in higher education over 바카라사이트 TPS.

Also set to take action alongside 바카라사이트 UCU are 바카라사이트 Association of Teachers and Lecturers, 바카라사이트 National Union of Teachers and 바카라사이트 civil servants' Public and Commercial Services Union.

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and a director of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said it was "premature" to hold industrial action while talks between unions and 바카라사이트 government continued.

He added: "(In) 바카라사이트 last strike action here, you could count 바카라사이트 numbers on one hand. I expect it to be similar on 바카라사이트 30th."

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 union's members are "unlikely militants and it is unfortunate that vice-chancellors will not be supporting 바카라사이트m in this just cause. It is not fair that ordinary people are being made to suffer huge cuts in 바카라사이트ir standards of living."

Bigger unions such as 바카라사이트 GMB, Unison and Unite - which all have members in higher education - could mount sustained industrial action in 바카라사이트 autumn if negotiations fail.

Jon Richards, head of higher education for Unison, said that if that happened, he would expect "a number of institutions to close" during strikes. He added that about half of Unison's 45,000 higher education members work in post-1992 institutions.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.