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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. | 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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| My university threatened to dock staff 1/261 of their annual salary unless we declared our intention to strike (or not) before the day, even though it is not a legal requirement for individuals to do so. Splitting the salary into 1/261 does not account for the fact that I work 10 hour days, frequently work weekends and rarely take all of my days off. I plan to leave the UK and work elsewhere... | |
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| I work in a small FE college, we have not had a pay rise for 5 years. Contracted to 37 hours per week.With an open evening, an interview evening and marking at the weekend, I completed 17 hours unpaid work. I earn £24,321, luckily I love my job otherwise I would have left years ago. | |
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| I have just walked into my University Library and the picket line is already forming!I have little sympathy for these workers, especially as they are asking students like myself not to come in to university today! With exams only weeks away, I feel that is rather irresponsible.The pension system needs reforming. It is changing for everyone, so why should these workers be exempt? | |
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| University Lecturers get paid far too much for what they actually do anyways. They need their Salaries cutting unless they do actually do the job there supposed to. I go to University and am disgusted that the Student Union is supporting a strike, The majority of them are on around £35,000 a year plus. Get back to work and support your students | |
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| Lower pay in real terms, higher pension costs and reduced benefits, added to extra responsibility as employers reduce staff and expect more and more from those that remain, have made lecturers very angry. Add to that we will be docked 1.260th of annual salary for today which presumes we work a 5 day week when many work 6 and 7 days on behalf of students, the goodwill has finally evaporated. | |
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