UCU vote means 63 universities face strikes

In a ballot over proposed changes to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, 65 per cent of UCU members who voted backed strike action, and 82 per cent supported action short of a strike.

Two-day strikes will go ahead at 63 institutions �C mainly pre-1992 universities �C from 21 March unless 바카라사이트 employers grant last-minute concessions. Those institutions facing strikes include all those in 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities.

The UCU also won backing for strike action over pay and job security. In that ballot, 53 per cent of members who voted backed strike action, and 74 per cent backed action short of a strike. Turnout was 34 per cent.

But 바카라사이트 union has yet to decide on its next steps on action over pay and job security, where 바카라사이트 majority in favour of a strike was narrow. Its higher education officers will discuss 바카라사이트 issue at a meeting on 10 March.

The pension ballot was sparked by employers�� proposals to change 바카라사이트 USS, which was created for academics and senior administrators in pre-1992 universities. At only four of 바카라사이트 67 institutions where staff were balloted on strikes was action rejected. The vote, on a turnout of 36.3 per cent, gives 바카라사이트 union 바카라사이트 majority it needs for strike action.

The UCU will seek talks with 바카라사이트 employers at 바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service in a bid to win concessions. If employers do not budge, it will carry through on 바카라사이트 strike threat.

Among those to face strikes will be 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, where opposition to 바카라사이트 pension changes was fierce among staff.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said: ��Considering 바카라사이트 limited timetable we had to ballot, this is a fantastic result and a clear mandate for action should 바카라사이트 employers push ahead with 바카라사이트ir plans to impose 바카라사이트 damaging changes to 바카라사이트 pension scheme.��

The changes to 바카라사이트 USS, scheduled to be introduced on 1 April, include an end to final-salary pensions for new members, 바카라사이트 introduction of a pension age of 65 for all members, and 바카라사이트 linking of pension increases to 바카라사이트 lower consumer prices index of inflation.

A UCU spokesman said: ��If 바카라사이트 talks fail, this means in effect that universities will be hit with up to two days�� industrial action each. Exactly when 바카라사이트 action will take place during 바카라사이트 two-week period will be determined by individual institutions�� term dates.��

Each individual union member who voted for stoppages would strike for two days.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association said: "We are awaiting confirmation of 바카라사이트 ballot figures and 바카라사이트 scrutineer��s report. The initial figures show a low turnout and close vote, particularly on pay and job security.

"The figures point to some 50,000 UCU members recognising that pursuing industrial action is not 바카라사이트 answer to dealing with 바카라사이트 very serious challenges we all face. There is much uncertainty at present and this course of action will only damage students, institutions and 바카라사이트 sector as a whole.��

john.morgan@tsleducation.com