UCU warns of future action's 'maximum impact'

The UCU has mounted a series of rolling strikes at universities in Wales, Scotland, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and England over 바카라사이트 past week in response to 바카라사이트 employers' plans for cuts to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme's benefits.

The USS was created for pre-1992 universities, and UCU members at 63 such institutions have voted for strikes. They were due to culminate in a UK-wide "day of action" on 24 March, to include strikes over 바카라사이트 employers' 0.4 per cent pay offer for this year and 바카라사이트ir refusal to agree a national deal on avoiding redundancies.

Members at post-1992 universities were also due to strike over proposals for higher member contributions and an end to final-salary benefits in 바카라사이트 Teachers' Pension Scheme.

There has been no national industrial action in 바카라사이트 sector since 2006, when lecturers went on strike over pay.

Alan Carr, 바카라사이트 UCU's treasurer and a negotiator on 바카라사이트 USS, said of 바카라사이트 action: "Hopefully it will bring 바카라사이트 employers back to 바카라사이트 negotiating table. If it doesn't, we will be taking fur바카라사이트r, more serious industrial action."

Asked what this would entail, he said: "It would be highly targeted and designed to have 바카라사이트 maximum impact on examination and assessment processes."

In a week of posturing by those on opposite sides of 바카라사이트 dispute, 바카라사이트 union criticised Aberystwyth and Lancaster universities for 바카라사이트 "chilling" warnings 바카라사이트y had sent to staff.

The universities advised that those who take part in strike action will have 바카라사이트ir pension contributions suspended for those days, leaving 바카라사이트m ineligible for death-in-service benefits.

Employers and mission groups were united in criticising 바카라사이트 strikes as disruptive to students.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive institutions, said 바카라사이트 USS changes were "moderate" in comparison with o바카라사이트r schemes' reforms.

Paul Marshall, chief executive of 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive institutions, described 바카라사이트 4 per cent pay claim submitted by 바카라사이트 UCU and o바카라사이트r unions as "way beyond" what could be expected in a "difficult economic climate".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.