Lecturers strike in university dispute

Pay and pensions spark action

UNIVERSITY lecturers in Oldham took part in a national strike today over pay and pensions.

Members of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) were on the picket line at University Campus Oldham, part of Huddersfield University, from 7am.

The union was expecting members at around 500 colleges and universities to walk out over plans for greater pension contributions from staff and an increase in the pension age.

This is against a backdrop of a second real-terms annual pay cut.

It is the first UK-wide strike by universities in five years and the first in further education colleges since 2008.

UCU branch secretary Jackie Lane said: “Today is about pensions. Following the Hutton Review it is almost certain there are going to be cuts to our pensions.

“It’s about the fact the employers won’t negotiate over pay increases. They have offered us a 0.4 per cent pay increase which we haven’t accepted.

“They refuse to negotiate over job security as well. It’s not the University of Huddersfield specifically, its about the whole of the higher education sector.

“People are just waiting to see what’s going to happen. They are very nervous about the future, particularly with the rise in tuition fees coming in next year and how that is going to affect job security.”

UCU said that the action was supported by the National Union of Students which is concerned about the impact of the cuts on the quality of education.

National general secretary Sally Hunt added: “Instead of burying their head in the sand the employers need urgently to respond to our concerns.”