St Andrews University lecturers took to the streets on Wednesday in protest at ”unfair” changes to their pension rights.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) shared out a ”pensions cake” to the public to highlight changes, which involve a 3% pay cut and poorer pensions for many.
The cake was distributed unevenly, with some people given bigger slices than others to symbolise what members called a ”pensions carve-up”.
The lecturers said the cake represented the different pensions new members of staff and those who take career breaks will receive following changes imposed to the Universities Superannuation Scheme at the start of October.
The lunchtime protest, at the main gate to St Salvator’s College in North Street, was part of UCU’s industrial action campaign across 67 universities against the changes to pensions that will see staff pay more to work longer with less protection should they lose their job.
The union has warned that, if the current action does not force negotiations, it will escalate to include rolling strikes and a boycott of student assessment.
In two referendums, more than 90% of scheme members who voted objected to the changes and in the industrial action ballot 77% of UCU members backed a sustained industrial action campaign.
St Andrews UCU president Chris Hooley said: ”The pensions cake is being unfairly distributed up as new members receive an even smaller share and current members see their slices shrinking.
”We are keen to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible with minimal disruption. However, you cannot negotiate with an empty chair and if the employers’ representatives refuse to talk then we will look to escalate our action.”