University staff back strike action over pensions

The UCU is locked in conflict with employer representative Universities UK over the level of future contributions to the scheme. It claims the changes mean that a typical member will pay in £40,000 more over their employment but receive £200,000 less in retirement.

Academics and other university staff went on strike over pensions in early 2018 and, with 79 per cent of those balloted voting in favour on Thursday, another walkout looks likely.

The UCU met on Friday to consider its next steps. If employers do not respond to the union's demands it says around 1m students will be affected.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The results can only be interpreted as clear support for strike action over pensions, pay and working conditions. The ballots reflect just how unhappy and angry staff are at the state of higher education in the UK.

“It is incredibly frustrating that we had to ballot members again, but universities only have themselves to blame after failing to address falling real-terms pay and for refusing to deal with casualisation, workloads and the rising cost of USS pensions.”

Labour MP and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has urged all parties to open talks to avoid strike action.

Professor Grady said: “Universities now have to come back to us prepared to work seriously to address these problems. If they choose to ignore this message from their staff then strike action looks inevitable.”