Strike ballot launched at Northumbria University in pay and pensions row

The industrial action ballot will open on Monday 15 December and will close on Friday 23 January, with potential action in the new year when teaching takes place. It comes after UCU members overwhelmingly passed a motion of no confidence in the university executive team, including the vice-chancellor, in a packed branch meeting last month.

Management wants to move staff onto the Universities Superannuation Scheme, which could leave them significantly worse off. Those who refuse will have their pay frozen, effectively punishing employees who wish to remain in TPS and locking them into years of real terms pay cuts.

Northumbria's management is attempting to save £11 million through these cuts to pay and pensions. UCU said the proposals amount to an attack on long-term retirement security.

The dispute comes amid growing national concern about universities such as Northumbria and Solent seeking to cut pension costs at the expense of staff. UCU has repeatedly warned that by undermining established pension schemes, employers are threatening staff morale, and recruitment, and retention in the higher education sector.

A petition has been launched calling on the university to rethink its plan and 'Stop the Steal'.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Threatening strike action is a last resort for our members but telling staff they must choose between their pay or pension is not a tenable option.  Our members are rightly furious about this attack on their retirement security and should not be forced to pay the price for decisions made by a university management that is rushing through a process which has no place in higher education.  It needs to rethink these plans and work with us, or face both serious reputational damage and disruption on campus.'