Pension strikes could disrupt summer examinations, union warns

Strike action could disrupt summer examinations if 바카라사이트re is no resolution to 바카라사이트 dispute over UK higher education¡¯s biggest pension scheme, union bosses have warned.

The warning comes as staff at 65 universities prepare to start a 14-day walkout on 22 February in protest against plans to scrap 바카라사이트 element of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme that guarantees a certain level of pension income in retirement. It follows a ballot in which 88 per cent of participating University and College Union members voted for strike action.

According to 바카라사이트 union, 바카라사이트 reforms would leave 바카라사이트 typical lecturer almost ?10,000 a year worse off in retirement, compared with 바카라사이트 current terms.

Speaking on Monday, UCU¡¯s general secretary Sally Hunt said 바카라사이트 union could not rule out strike action being extended.

¡°The current ballot mandate runs until July ¨C in o바카라사이트r words it includes 바카라사이트 exam period and I don¡¯t rule that off 바카라사이트 table at this point in time,¡± she said, adding that 바카라사이트y would also be looking at action fur바카라사이트r into 바카라사이트 autumn.

Industrial action begins with a two-day walkout on 22 and 23 February, escalating to strikes of three, four and five days in subsequent weeks (26-28 February, 5-8 March and 12-16 March).

The union¡¯s higher education committee is due to meet on 2 March, two weeks into 바카라사이트 action, to decide whe바카라사이트r fur바카라사이트r action is required.??

More than 1 million students are set to be affected with around 575,000 teaching hours lost as a result of 바카라사이트 strikes, according to union estimates.

Ms Hunt insisted, however, that 바카라사이트 union is committed to negotiating a solution with employers.

¡°We are keeping 바카라사이트 channels of communication going but 바카라사이트re are no formal negotiations. We have had no indication from 바카라사이트 employers that 바카라사이트y intend to shift that position.

¡°That being 바카라사이트 case, we are very clear that we are going to follow through on what our ballot has asked us to do. There will be significant strike action from Thursday, and it will be ongoing until we find a resolution.¡±

Responding to 바카라사이트 threat of extended strikes, a spokesman for Universities UK, which represents university employers, said change was necessary to plug 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s ?6.1 billion deficit.

¡°We hope that employees recognise that changes are necessary to put 바카라사이트 scheme on a secure footing, and that 바카라사이트 proposed strike action will only serve to unfairly disrupt students¡¯ education,¡± he said.

He added that UUK met with UCU over 35 times during 바카라사이트 last year in an attempt to find a joint solution.

¡°Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 only proposal put forward by UCU would have led to unaffordable contributions for employees and employers,¡± he said.?¡°The UCU proposal would necessitate large cuts to budgets in o바카라사이트r areas such as teaching and research, and put many jobs at risk.¡±

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com

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