Threat of strike action looms over eight Scottish universities
Well over 130,000 students at eight Scottish universities, including St Andrews and Dundee, will be hit with strike action this month unless a dispute over changes to staff pensions can be resolved.
Dundee University Tower Building.
The University and College Union (UCU) has announced plans for strike action in Scotland next Thursday. A second day of action across the UK has been pencilled in for March 24.
Last week UCU members of the universities superannuation scheme (USS) pension plan voted for action including a strike. Taken overall across the UK 64.55% of UCU members who voted chose strike action and 82.19% voted for action short of a strike.
Following the result of the ballot UCU general secretary Sally Hunt wrote to the Employers Pension Forum (EPF) to request urgent talks through the arbitration service Acas to resolve the dispute and avoid the first national strike action in universities for five years. The union has not had a response from the employers but said on Wednesday night that it remained hopeful of talks and a resolution without the need for action.
Members at institutions that voted for action will be asked to strike against the "detrimental proposals" from university employers to reduce pension benefits and increase costs "even though USS is in robust health." The union said it had to act quickly as the employers plan to bring in the changes to the pension scheme on April 1.
Ms Hunt said, "University staff really value their pension rights and have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear. If a settlement is not reached they are prepared to strike to defend their pensions."
She insisted the action would only be taken reluctantly, adding, "Strike action is always a last resort and I am ready and willing to clear my diary to meet the employers through Acas immediately. We can avoid widespread disruptions on campus but both sides must be prepared to go that extra mile and move quickly.
"The ball is in the employers' court and we are still waiting for their response."
Voting in favour of strike action were Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, St Andrews, Stirling and Strathclyde universities. A spokesman at St Andrews University said on Wednesday night, "We just received formal notification of the strike and will consider the implications for St Andrews."
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