UCU members in Westminster protest against pension changes

The action is part of a campaign to debunk the myths surrounding the pensions debate. The campaign, Decent Pensions: Securing the Future for All, is being led by seven education unions* and aims to have a representative at the lobby from every school, college and 'post-92' or 'modern' university (approximately 25,000 in total).

The lobby is purposely being held during the half-term holiday to avoid interrupting school children's education and causing disruption for parents. However the unions have not ruled out further industrial action if the government does not think again over changes to educators' pensions.

Petitions are going out this week to the 25,000 schools, colleges and universities and they will be presented to MPs during the lobby on 26 October. Teachers and lecturers will be scheduling lobbying meetings with their local MPs for the afternoon of the lobby.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "Thousands of teachers and lecturers from around the country are to coming to London to demonstrate how frustrated they are at the government's plans for their pensions.

'They will be speaking to their MPs and debunking the many myths that politicians have wheeled out in recent months about any burden on the taxpayer and challenging the insulting lie that teachers' pensions are gold-plated.

'If the government continues to erode pensions, which they know are both affordable and sustainable, we will be left with little option but to take further strike action. Teachers and lecturers cannot, and will not, stand by and see their pensions eroded for purely political reasons. It is entirely possible to avoid further disruption, but for that to happen the government needs to negotiate fairly.'

* The campaign is being jointly organised by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT The Teachers' Union, National Union of Teachers (NUT), University and College Union (UCU) and Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (UCAC).