This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/education-12830435
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 15 | Version 16 |
|---|---|
| UK lecturers' strike over pensions disrupts students | UK lecturers' strike over pensions disrupts students |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Students at universities and colleges across the UK are facing disruption to their studies as lecturers strike over pay and changes to their pensions. | Students at universities and colleges across the UK are facing disruption to their studies as lecturers strike over pay and changes to their pensions. |
| The UK-wide action involves members of the University and College Union in up to 500 FE colleges, older universities and former polytechnic universities. | The UK-wide action involves members of the University and College Union in up to 500 FE colleges, older universities and former polytechnic universities. |
| It follows earlier pension protests by dons at older universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | It follows earlier pension protests by dons at older universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| The Universities and Colleges Employers Association said it was disappointed. | The Universities and Colleges Employers Association said it was disappointed. |
| The UCU says the protest is the first UK-wide strike action in universities for five years and the first in further education colleges since 2008. | The UCU says the protest is the first UK-wide strike action in universities for five years and the first in further education colleges since 2008. |
| The union, which says tens of thousands of staff are striking, has received the support of the National Union of Students, despite the likely disruption to their members' studies. | The union, which says tens of thousands of staff are striking, has received the support of the National Union of Students, despite the likely disruption to their members' studies. |
| Culmination of action | Culmination of action |
| The strike comes on top of four days of industrial action at 67 older UK universities in a row over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme. | The strike comes on top of four days of industrial action at 67 older UK universities in a row over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme. |
| The strike on Thursday will see them joined by colleagues in the rest of the UK's universities and those in further education colleges, who are members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. | The strike on Thursday will see them joined by colleagues in the rest of the UK's universities and those in further education colleges, who are members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. |
| The USS dispute centres on attempts to raise the retirement age, increase contributions from 6.35% to 7.5% of earnings, and end the final salary element of the scheme for new joiners. | The USS dispute centres on attempts to raise the retirement age, increase contributions from 6.35% to 7.5% of earnings, and end the final salary element of the scheme for new joiners. |
| The Employers' Pensions Forum, which runs the scheme, said the strike action was "damaging" and the changes were are "remarkably good deal" in the context of likely changes to pensions across other sectors. | The Employers' Pensions Forum, which runs the scheme, said the strike action was "damaging" and the changes were are "remarkably good deal" in the context of likely changes to pensions across other sectors. |
| It accuses UCU of ignoring three years of negotiations - while the union blames the EPF for refusing talks through the conciliation service Acas. | It accuses UCU of ignoring three years of negotiations - while the union blames the EPF for refusing talks through the conciliation service Acas. |
| The further education staff say they are striking because of the government's support for the principles laid out in the Hutton report on public sector pensions - raising contributions, moving to a career average scheme, and linking pension rises to the lower measure of inflation, CPI. | The further education staff say they are striking because of the government's support for the principles laid out in the Hutton report on public sector pensions - raising contributions, moving to a career average scheme, and linking pension rises to the lower measure of inflation, CPI. |
| The government is yet to give its official response to the Hutton report. | The government is yet to give its official response to the Hutton report. |
| Rallies were due to take place in cities including Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Birmingham and Newcastle. | Rallies were due to take place in cities including Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Birmingham and Newcastle. |
| UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "University and college staff really value their pension rights and have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear. | UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "University and college staff really value their pension rights and have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear. |
| "Strike action is always a last resort but the attacks on pensions and pay have created real anger and, instead of burying their heads in the sand, the employers need to respond urgently to our concerns. | "Strike action is always a last resort but the attacks on pensions and pay have created real anger and, instead of burying their heads in the sand, the employers need to respond urgently to our concerns. |
| "Staff are sick to the back teeth of being told that their pay and pensions need to be cut to pay for an economic crisis created by others." | "Staff are sick to the back teeth of being told that their pay and pensions need to be cut to pay for an economic crisis created by others." |
| NUS president Aaron Porter said: "Huge cuts to university budgets ideologically imposed by this government pose a massive threat to jobs and education. | NUS president Aaron Porter said: "Huge cuts to university budgets ideologically imposed by this government pose a massive threat to jobs and education. |
| "NUS has worked closely with UCU throughout our campaigns to oppose government cuts and stands in solidarity with their strike action." | "NUS has worked closely with UCU throughout our campaigns to oppose government cuts and stands in solidarity with their strike action." |
| Chair of UCEA Professor Keith Burnett said: "Employers are extremely disappointed by UCU's decision to take industrial action. | Chair of UCEA Professor Keith Burnett said: "Employers are extremely disappointed by UCU's decision to take industrial action. |
| "We look to UCU to work with higher education institutions during this period of change and challenge for all - not against them. | "We look to UCU to work with higher education institutions during this period of change and challenge for all - not against them. |
| "There is much uncertainty in HE [higher education] at present and this course of action will have the potential to cause further difficulties for students and institutions." | "There is much uncertainty in HE [higher education] at present and this course of action will have the potential to cause further difficulties for students and institutions." |
Comments | Comments |
| You are not currently signed in. Sign in or register. | You are not currently signed in. Sign in or register. |
|
|
| As a part-time lecturer who doesn't work Thursdays I am at home but not on strike. If it were a strike day I would find it difficult because I do not want to let my students down. I would much rather that we brought out all the Finance staff or someone whose absence would make an impact on management not on students.As for milusvestal - lecturing is a real job and a harder one than many. | As a part-time lecturer who doesn't work Thursdays I am at home but not on strike. If it were a strike day I would find it difficult because I do not want to let my students down. I would much rather that we brought out all the Finance staff or someone whose absence would make an impact on management not on students.As for milusvestal - lecturing is a real job and a harder one than many. |
| Report this comment | Report this comment |
| Link to this | Link to this |
| | |
| I am a postdoctoral researcher at a large university. I crossed the picket line for two reasons. 1) As a fairly new member of USS it is not really in my interests for it to give large payouts before I am anywhere near the point of retirement. There might not be anything left over by then. 2) Relying on pension fund managed by others as a 'significant component of renumeration' is a mugs game. | I am a postdoctoral researcher at a large university. I crossed the picket line for two reasons. 1) As a fairly new member of USS it is not really in my interests for it to give large payouts before I am anywhere near the point of retirement. There might not be anything left over by then. 2) Relying on pension fund managed by others as a 'significant component of renumeration' is a mugs game. |
| Report this comment | Report this comment |
| Link to this | Link to this |
| | |
| First let me say that I agreee with the reasons for the strike & support the action.That being said they aren't doing themselves too many favours here! At the college I work in there were 20 or so lecturers stood out the front for about 2 hours. at 11.00am they all went home! I'm not sure sitting in the sunshine in your garden is the right way to conjure up support for your cause. | First let me say that I agreee with the reasons for the strike & support the action.That being said they aren't doing themselves too many favours here! At the college I work in there were 20 or so lecturers stood out the front for about 2 hours. at 11.00am they all went home! I'm not sure sitting in the sunshine in your garden is the right way to conjure up support for your cause. |
| Report this comment | Report this comment |
| Link to this | Link to this |
| | |
| Im a full time student, and have been affected by these strikes. I support them fully. Not only are the lecturers not paid well enough for the knowledge they impart and research they do, but cutting their pay, when we, as students being asked to pay more to go to uni, seems rather silly. Perhaps the government should actually pay lecturers properly for the knowledge and inspiration they provide. | Im a full time student, and have been affected by these strikes. I support them fully. Not only are the lecturers not paid well enough for the knowledge they impart and research they do, but cutting their pay, when we, as students being asked to pay more to go to uni, seems rather silly. Perhaps the government should actually pay lecturers properly for the knowledge and inspiration they provide. |
| Report this comment | Report this comment |
| Link to this | Link to this |
| | |
| My father is a lecturer in Physics at a well-respected university and is striking today. As a final-year undergraduate, I completely support him. The pay in universities is shockingly bad considering how much intelligence and hard work is needed to reach such a level in academia. Some students seem to have a somewhat misguided view in thinking that lecturers only teach and do nothing else. | My father is a lecturer in Physics at a well-respected university and is striking today. As a final-year undergraduate, I completely support him. The pay in universities is shockingly bad considering how much intelligence and hard work is needed to reach such a level in academia. Some students seem to have a somewhat misguided view in thinking that lecturers only teach and do nothing else. |
| Report this comment | Report this comment |
| Link to this | Link to this |
| Comments 5 of 11 | Comments 5 of 11 |
| |
| Add your comment | Add your comment |
| You are not currently signed in. Sign in or register. | You are not currently signed in. Sign in or register. |