UCU to ballot members over further strikes in pensions row

The union's national executive today withdrew its previous call for rolling strikes in February and a strike on 1 March. UCU members will now be asked if they agree with the NEC's recommendation to reject the government's offer and if they will back more strikes, starting with a one day national stoppage at the end of March.
 
The ballot will open over the next week and close in mid March. A number of other unions, including the National Union of Teachers and PCS, are balloting over similar plans.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The government's proposals still come up short, even after repeated attempts by the education unions over months of hard negotiation to win protection for pensions.
 
'UCU is always stronger when we seek our members' views before acting so I am delighted that the NEC has now agreed to a consultative ballot and that what we do next will be decided by our members themselves.'