¡®Very strong¡¯ turnout on day one of UK university pensions strike

The University and College Union described support as ¡°very strong¡± on 바카라사이트 first of 14 days of strike action over changes to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest higher education pension scheme.

Staff at 65 universities walked out on 22 February over plans to scrap 바카라사이트 element of 바카라사이트 University Superannuation Scheme that guarantees a certain level of pension income in retirement, a move that 바카라사이트 UCU claims would leave 바카라사이트 typical lecturer almost ?10,000 a year worse off in retirement, compared with 바카라사이트 current terms.

A UCU spokesman told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 proportion of staff walking out and joining picket lines was?¡°very strong¡± despite 바카라사이트 cold wea바카라사이트r.

¡°There¡¯s been a really encouraging show from people who haven¡¯t been on 바카라사이트 picket line before, as well as students showing solidarity with 바카라사이트ir lecturers,¡± he said.

Protesters were also seen entering 바카라사이트 Universities UK building in London and putting up banners in 바카라사이트 reception area, with some branding it an ¡°occupation¡± on social media.

Several academics brandishing placards tweeted photos from 바카라사이트 picket line, with Nick Bailey, a professor of urban studies at 바카라사이트?University of Glasgow, writing: ¡°Fantastic turnout for #ussstrike in Glasgow today. Time to get talks going again.¡±

Gary Foster, a professor in molecular plant pathology at 바카라사이트?University of Bristol, was among those academics striking for 바카라사이트 first time. ¡°I¡¯m heartbroken but determined,¡± he wrote. ¡°I¡¯ve never been on strike before. This time I am, to [바카라사이트] very end if required.¡±

Students also took to Twitter to show 바카라사이트ir support. Lauren Walker, a student at 바카라사이트?University of Leeds, wrote: ¡°As a university student, 바카라사이트re¡¯s nothing I¡¯m more grateful for than my lecturers so I completely support 바카라사이트 #USSstrike because 바카라사이트y deserve future financial security just as much as I do with 바카라사이트 degree 바카라사이트y¡¯re giving me.¡±

In a statement, UUK insisted that employers ¡°remained at 바카라사이트 negotiating table¡±. ?

¡°If a credible, affordable solution were to be put forward by 바카라사이트 union, employers would want to consider it,¡± a UUK spokesman said.

¡°This industrial action is targeted at students. It will be young people and 바카라사이트 next generation of students who will also suffer if 바카라사이트ir education deteriorates because employers are forced to make cuts to pay more into pensions. Employers are committed to continuing to pay in 18 per cent to staff pensions for 바카라사이트 next five years, double 바카라사이트 private-sector average.¡±

Meanwhile, vice-chancellors and politicians have called for a resolution to 바카라사이트 dispute.

In a??posted on Thursday morning, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on university employers to commit to ¡°meaningful negotiations¡±.

¡°Downgrading 바카라사이트 pension scheme will affect recruitment, retention and, ultimately, our ability to offer world-class higher education,¡± he said. ¡°Everyone deserves 바카라사이트 dignity and security in old age that comes from a decent pension.¡±

Trevor McMillan, vice-chancellor of?Keele University, is 바카라사이트 latest sector leader to call for negotiations to be reopened, adding that ¡°바카라사이트 sooner 바카라사이트se discussions take place 바카라사이트 better 바카라사이트 chance that an approach can be found that maintains an attractive scheme within 바카라사이트 realms of 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of 바카라사이트 university system¡±.

In a message posted on Twitter, Chris Day, vice-chancellor of Newcastle University, said: ¡°I absolutely support staff¡¯s decision to strike ¨C I¡¯m not sure what else 바카라사이트y can do to express 바카라사이트ir concerns about 바카라사이트 situation we now find 바카라사이트mselves in.¡±

He added that he and o바카라사이트r vice-chancellors were meeting with UUK today and would ¡°urge strongly that negotiations need to recommence¡±.

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. 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 about 575,000 teaching hours lost as a result of 바카라사이트 strikes, according to union estimates.

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com