Lecturers at Queen’s University Belfast have joined a UK-wide protest against proposed changes to the University Superannuation Scheme which could result in some academic staff losing up to £200,000 over their retirement.
The strike, organised by the University and College Union (UCU), consists of 14 dates between February 22nd and March 15th. More than one million students in 65 universities across the UK will be affected by the strikes with threats to strike on more dates if a resolution isn’t found.
As a result of the changes, a person who starts work today could lose approximately £10,000 a year from their pension. UCU has said that the strike is essential to protect the right to receive a fair pension.
The changes, which were proposed by Universities UK, the group that represents university employees, are designed to tackle a £6.1 billion deficit in the Universities Superannuation Scheme, one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK. Thousands of lecturers and teachers have invested thousands into their mis-sold pension and it seems as though a lot of them are now going to miss out if this change goes ahead.
The strike has also gained the support of Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union (QUBSU) and National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI) who are joining academics on the picket line.
Speaking to The University Times, QUBSU President Stephen McCrystall said that “the student union council voted to support the strike because students recognise the decision shouldn’t be taken lightly”.
McCrystall said that he hoped the opposing groups would find a way to engage in negotiations and that a solution would be found.
Students across the UK are being affected by similar strikes, including in Oxford and Cambridge. Unions and other student groups have been rallying to provide support to students who will miss lecture hours due to the strikes.
On the eve of the strike, 11 vice-chancellors called for renewed talks with lecturers in a last minute bid to stop the strike. Vice-chancellors from Warwick, Essex, Goldsmiths University of London and others said that the lines of communication should be re-opened with the lecturers’ union so students wouldn’t suffer.
