Lecturers at UU’s Magee campus in Derry going strike later this month over pension changes
THE Ulster University’s Magee College in Derry is facing 14 days of strike action from lecturers.
The action by University and College Union (UCU) members will start on Thursday, February 22.
It is is being taken due to a row over planned changes to staff pensions.
The UU is bracing itself for disruption to classes, lectures and other university activities as a result of the strike action.
The UCU has around 600 members at UU campuses in Derry, Coleraine, Jordanstown and Belfast.
The move follows plans by lecturers at 61 universities across the UK who announced last month they were to strike..
Staff are angry at plans to change the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) from a defined benefit scheme – where they would have a guaranteed income in retirement – to a defined contribution scheme, where their pensions would be subject to changes in the investment markets.
It is claimed the changes could cost an average lecturer £200,000 over the course of their retirement.
UCU members at Ulster received an email on Tuesday instructing them not to work or cross picket lines on 22 and 23 February.
They plan to do the same on 26, 27 and 28 February.
Further strike action is planned for a further nine days during the first two weeks of March.
The email circulated to UCU members at UU also tells them not to reschedule work that is meant to be done on those dates.
“This is a very serious situation which will affect all of us now working in the university,” it said.
“No-one wants to strike and no-one wants to lose money and there will be a hardship fund available which we encourage you to avail of.”
“However, it is clear that only direct action will affect our employers.”
The Students’ Union is backing the lecturers over their strike action.
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