Lecturers to be balloted for further strike action

University and college lecturers are to be balloted for further strike action over the Government’s controversial changes to public sector pensions.

The University and College Union (UCU) said members will be asked if they agree with a recommendation to refuse the Government’s offer and will back further walkouts.

If approved, action could start with a one-day walkout at the end of next month.

The union said its national executive (NEC) had withdrawn a previous call for rolling strikes throughout February. It is recommending that the Government’s offer on pensions be rejected.

The ballot will open during the next week and close in the middle of March.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “The Government’s proposals still come up short, even after repeated attempts by the education unions, over months of hard negotiation, to win protection for pensions.

“UCU is always stronger when we seek our members’ views before acting so I am personally delighted that the NEC has now agreed to a consultative ballot and that what we do next will be decided by our members themselves.”