UK: University Teachers to Go on Strike to Save Pension

From February 22 onwards, thousands of university lecturers across the United Kingdom will go on strike, despite warnings from the varsities that they could face legal action. Teachers from more than 60 universities have called the warnings as ‘bullying’ and said that strike will intensify till the issue of pension is not resolved.

The centre of the issue is the proposal to slash the benefits of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension scheme. According to the teachers union, University and College Union (UCU), the move will “leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement than under the current set-up”.

UCU said that the teachers are left with no options but to go on strike as universities' representatives - Universities UK (UUK) - have refused to enter into negotiations with UCU on the issue. The strike call received huge support within the UCU and in the ballot 88% of members voted to back strike action, with voter turn out of 58%.

The strike will go on four weeks, with escalating strike plans. The strike dates are:

Week one - Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February (two days)

Week two - Monday 26, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 February (three days)

Week three - Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 March (four days)

Week four - Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 March (five days)

Talking about the UUK’s proposal to cut pensions, UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said, “this analysis reveals just how damaging UUK's hardline plans for the pension scheme would be on an individual basis for people who have planned and saved for their retirement.”

“Already offering worse benefits than other schemes available in the sector, these proposals would devastate USS members' pensions and could create a recruitment and retention crisis as staff jump ship to secure their futures,” noted Hunt.

The teachers’ strike for pensions comes in the backdrop of an increasing attack on the affordable education system in the UK, marred rising tuition fees, which has almost tripled, grants cut for the poorest students and increasing privatization of the system.

The teachers’ strike has also received support from the large sections of students. In a recent survey by Trendence UK, it was found that more than 51% of the students completely backed the demands of teachers and their move to go on strike.