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| 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. | |
| 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 has received the support of the National Union of Students, despite the likely disruption to their members' studies. | The union 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. |
| 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 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 at present and this course of action will have the potential to cause further difficulties for students and institutions." |
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| I cannot believe some of these ignorant comments. I am a lecturer, i'm not on strike because I want to support my students but I can understand why my colleagues are striking. We are contracted to work 37 hours per week but never actually work less than 47 hours, often under stressful conditions. Now we face ignorant, outdated opinions from people who still think it's the 1980s. | |
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| Bruno Thomas, USS is not a public sector pension; it is a PRIVATE scheme, which only exists because we pay for it. You are quite right that the change will allow the current high earners to enjoy their pension, but that's only if there will be enough little ones at the bottom of the scheme paying for that... why do you think so many professors are on strike?? | |
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| I'm fully supportive of this action. Working in a university is not the easy job that many think it is. 10 years or so ago pay levels were comparable with MPs - now they earn double. With regards to Teachers Pension Scheme the then governments were happy to take all of the contributions directly into the Treasury for decades and keep the excess, now they don't want to pay it back | |
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| At least we'll be able to see the creative slogans from the best minds in the country. I hope "cut the bankers bonuses not our pensions" isn't the best they've got or I'm gonna be sorely disappointed. | |
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