Scottish Uni Staff Strike Again Over Pay And Pensions

Staff at colleges and universitys across Scotland are taking part in a second round of strikes today over changes to pay and pensions.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are joining a UK-wide walkout to protest at a second consecutive real-terms annual pay cut and lack of an agreement on job security.

At nine universities, members are protesting against plans for greater pension contributions from staff, reduced pension benefits and an increase in the pension age in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

UCU members will be on picket lines across Scotland from 8am with many branches joining together to hold regional rallies in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Stirling.

The union has received the support of the National Union of Students, despite the likely disruption to their members' studies.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: ``Strike action is always a last resort but the attacks on pay and jobs have created real anger and, instead of burying their heads in the sand, the employers need to respond urgently to our concerns. University staff really value their pension rights and those in the USS scheme in Scotland have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear.

``Staff are sick to the back teeth of being told that their pay and pensions need to be cut to pay for an economic crisis created by others.''