Staff to stage one-day strike

HUNDREDS of staff at universities and colleges will be staging a one-day strike tomorrow in protest at pension changes and pay.

The industrial action is expected to lead to many student lectures being cancelled, but details of how many of their classes may be affected is not yet known.

The University and College Union (UCU) is organising the action, which will affect further and higher education institutions across England.

Locally, lecturers at Keele, Staffordshire and Manchester Metropolitan universities will be involved in the strike.

There are also expected to be picket lines at Stoke-on-Trent College, Newcastle College, Stafford College, Leek College, South Cheshire College and Reaseheath College.

The row is linked to plans for greater pension contributions from staff, reduced pension benefits and an increase in the pension age.

UCU also claims pay offers for further and higher education staff this year have amounted to a real terms cut in salaries because they have not kept pace with inflation.

UCU regional official, Barry Johnson, said: "Strike action is always a last resort, but the attacks on pensions and pay have created real anger."

Page 27: University U-turn on plan to axe philosophy degrees.

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