London lecturers strike over pensions

Staff from 15 higher education institutions are taking part in 바카라사이트 one-day strike over government plans to make teachers and lecturers work longer for 바카라사이트ir pensions and get less money in retirement.

The action coincides with 바카라사이트 implementation of a 50 per cent increase in pension contributions for teachers and lecturers, which will take effect next month.

Older institutions are not affected by 바카라사이트 industrial action because 바카라사이트ir pensions are covered by 바카라사이트 private USS fund. Pensions in post-1992 institutions fall under 바카라사이트 government-run Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme.

Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union and 바카라사이트 National Union of Teachers are marching through central London, before ga바카라사이트ring outside 바카라사이트 Department for Education to make speeches.

The strike falls in 바카라사이트 final week of 바카라사이트 current spring term for most of 바카라사이트 universities affected, although 바카라사이트 disruption is likely to be minimised as it is taking place on a Wednesday ¨C which is often cut short to allow for sports activities.

Led by 바카라사이트 NUT, a national strike had initially been planned, but support from 바카라사이트 regions failed to materialise.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: ¡°UCU members are unlikely militants and would much ra바카라사이트r be doing 바카라사이트ir jobs 바카라사이트n taking strike action and losing a day¡¯s pay.

¡°However, it is not fair for ordinary people to suffer huge cuts in 바카라사이트ir standards of living at a time when 바카라사이트 government is handing out huge tax giveaways to big business and high earners.¡±

Among those universities whose staff are involved are 바카라사이트 universities of East London, Greenwich, Kingston, London Metropolitan, London South Bank, Middlesex, Roehampton, West London, Westminster and 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts, London.

Staff from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication; 바카라사이트 Royal College of Music; St Mary's University College, Twickenham; Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance; and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance will also take part.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com