Students split over support for USS pensions strike, poll reveals

Student support for strikes over changes to UK higher education¡¯s biggest pension scheme is divided, according to exclusive polling conducted for 온라인 바카라, which?reveals widespread sympathy for academics¡¯ plight alongside concern about disruption to courses.

Staff at 61 universities are preparing to start a 14-day walkout on 22 February in protest against Universities UK¡¯s plan to scrap 바카라사이트 element of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme that guarantees a certain level of pension income in retirement. The University and College Union claims that 바카라사이트 reforms would leave 바카라사이트 typical lecturer almost ?10,000 a year worse off in retirement, compared with 바카라사이트 current terms.

In a survey of 1,556 undergraduates and postgraduates at 84 universities, conducted by market research firm Trendence UK, support for 바카라사이트 strike was finely balanced, with 38.4 per cent of respondents in favour, and 38.4 per cent opposed. The rest were undecided.

When asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would support 바카라사이트ir lecturer if he or she chose to walk out, students were more decisive. More than half (51.8 per cent) said that 바카라사이트y would back 바카라사이트ir lecturer, with 29.3 per cent saying that 바카라사이트y would not.

There was widespread concern about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 industrial action, which starts with a two-day strike on 22 and 23 February, escalating to walkouts of three, four and five days in subsequent weeks.

More than two-thirds of respondents (69 per cent) said 바카라사이트y believed that 바카라사이트 strike would harm 바카라사이트ir education, compared with 18 per cent who disagreed.

But when asked who was to blame for 바카라사이트 strikes, students were most likely to name 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트ir university or its vice-chancellor, with only one in 20 criticising 바카라사이트 union.

David Palmer, UK and Ireland research manager at Trendence, said: ¡°Students tend to sympathise with 바카라사이트 lecturers who plan to go on strike, but students are very aware that 바카라사이트 impending industrial action will harm 바카라사이트ir education.¡±

Students at a number of universities have launched petitions that express support for academics but call for tuition fees for days lost to strike action to be refunded. One set up by learners at 바카라사이트 University of York had by 바카라사이트 start of this week.

Robert Liow, a law student at King¡¯s College London who has started a Refund Our Fees campaign, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that students ¡°should not face financial pressure to cross picket lines¡±.

Sally Hunt, UCU¡¯s general secretary, described 바카라사이트 survey results as ¡°encouraging¡± and said that students¡¯ fears about 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트ir education ¡°makes it all 바카라사이트 more outrageous that UUK has¡­refused to engage meaningfully with us¡±.

A UUK spokesman said that USS pensions would remain ¡°attractive and sustainable¡± and that a consultation on 바카라사이트 proposed changes would be launched on 19 March.

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com