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Industrial action could be in the works, as university unions are meeting to decide their next moves in the clash over university pensions. Admissions and exams could suffer as the higher education committee – the University and College Union – meet ahead of their annual congress.

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One day walk outs have already taken place across several universities, but UCU officials have conceded that this probably will not be enough to contest the changes, and industrial action is the next step – even if this disrupts university admissions and upcoming exams.

The main sticking point for the union is an ongoing conflict over the University Superannuation Scheme, which is the central pension scheme for staff working at over three hundred universities. Proposed changes could see members losing thousands of pounds from their pension funds, putting them in a similar position to teachers and civil servants countrywide – who are currently embroiled in a bitter battle with the government over plans to alter the State Pension Age for women sooner than promised. Joining forces, the UCU has shown support to the teachers unions over alterations to their pension plans, which could see them working longer, making more contributions and receiving less money when they do retire.

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The UCU will be holding their annual congress next week in Harrogate, and are expected to re-ballot members of the USS scheme, and to decide whether or not to go ahead with industrial action. General Secretary for the union, Sally Hunt, said that they would be joining the other workers planning to strike at the end of June, and that they are ‘looking at escalating action at our pre-92 universities following the railroading through of detrimental changes to the USS pension scheme,’ she then added ‘The issue of staff pensions will be a major theme at our forthcoming congress.’

Unions have begun balloting members in recent weeks, and both Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the National Union of Teachers, are setting a tentative date of June 30^th for possible strike action. Millions of children and staff are likely to be affected across almost every school in England and Wales, if the plans are approved.

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