Scottish university staff are set to join UK-wide strike
Staff at Scottish universities seem set to take part in a UK-wide strike next week, with no sign of a dispute over proposed changes to their pensions being resolved.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 18.03.11
- Published online : 18.03.11 @ 09.58am
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Dundee and St Andrews universities, along with colleagues at six other Scottish institutions, staged a one-day strike on Thursday as part of the ongoing campaign.
Further action is taking place in Wales today, Northern Ireland on Monday and England on Tuesday, with the main protest scheduled for Thursday.
The UCU claims its members are being asked to accept reduced pension benefits and increased costs, even though their pension scheme is in good financial health.
General secretary Sally Hunt said, "University staff really value their pension rights and have made it clear from the start of this dispute that if the employers were not prepared to negotiate then we would be left with little option but to take strike action."
Employers' organisation the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) said it was "extremely disappointed" by the strikes, and said the union should work with universities rather than take action that risks harming them and their students.
Picket
Members of the Dundee branch of the UCU staged a picket on Thursday.
Branch president, Dr Carlo Morelli, said it had been a success with few people going to work, although a university spokesman said the action had not had a significant effect on operations, including teaching.
In St Andrews, staff are calling for the university to use its influence to encourage the Employers' Pension Forum to restart negotiations.
Senior English lecturer Tom Jones said the cuts were being brought in to save on staff costs despite the pension fund performing well.
He said, "We don't think it's fair to take from the pension scheme, which we've paid into. The strike is about a return to negotiations."
Mr Jones added that there was a positive response to the strike from students.
A university spokesman said the issue was a national dispute and not something the university could negotiate locally.
12.37pm - 18.03.2011 Sally Francis - Dundee, Angus Report This
I work at Dundee Uni (and am not in the Union) only 1 person I knew was on strike, and I didn't see any pickets around the campus, so if they were there they were quiet the students seemed to be having a great St Particks Day though
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