Fighting fund banner

 

8 Scottish universities to be hit with strike action this month as UCU announces strike dates

9 March 2011

Well over a hundred thousand students (135,705*) at 8 Scottish universities will be hit with strike action this month unless a dispute over changes to staff pensions can be resolved.

UCU has announced plans for strike action in Scotland on Thursday 17 March and a second day of strike action across the UK on Thursday 24 March.
 
Last week UCU members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension scheme at the 8 Scottish universities in USS voted for strike action and action short of a strike. Taken overall across the UK, two-thirds (64.55%) of UCU members who voted, voted for strike action and over four-fifths (82.19%) voted for action short of a strike.
 
Following the result of the ballot, UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, wrote to the Employers Pension Forum (EPF) to request urgent talks through the arbitration service, ACAS, to resolve the dispute and avoid the first national strike action in universities for five years. The union has still not had a response from the employers, but said today it remained hopeful of talks and a resolution without the need for action.
 
Members at institutions that voted for action will be asked to strike against the detrimental proposals from university employers to reduce pension benefits and increase costs even though USS is in robust health. More information on the dispute can be found at: USS changes - key questions
 
The union said it had to act quickly as the employers plan to bring in the changes to the pension scheme on Friday 1 April.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'University staff really value their pension rights and have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear and if a settlement is not reached, they are prepared to strike to defend their pensions.
 
'Strike action is always a last resort and I am ready and willing to clear my diary to meet the employers through ACAS immediately. We can avoid widespread disruptions on campus, but both sides must be prepared to go that extra mile and move quickly. The ball is in the employers' court and we are still waiting for their response.'
 
Notes

* Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2011
 
The 8 Scottish institutions that voted in favour of strike action and will be hit by strike action on the issue of pensions are.
 
The University of Aberdeen
The University of Dundee
University of Edinburgh
The University of Glasgow
Heriot-Watt University
University of St Andrews
The University of Stirling#
University of Strathclyde
 
# Members at the University of Stirling are staging a teach-in on the 17 March but will strike on the 24 March.

Last updated: 11 December 2015

Comments