ISTOCK, CLUBFOTOToday (February 22), researchers in the U.K. walked out in the first of 14 days of nationwide protests over pension cuts. More than 42,000 academics across 64 institutions who are part of the University and Colleges Union (UCU), including research staff and lecturers, are expected to walk out during the strike, which will be spread out over four weeks, according to Nature.
A UCU spokesperson tells Times Higher Education that there was a strong turnout on the picket lines despite the cold weather. “There’s been a really encouraging show from people who haven’t been on the picket line before, as well as students showing solidarity with their lecturers.”
The academics are protesting cuts proposed by employers to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, a national pension for employees at British research institutions, due to a growing deficit in the fund. According to Nature, financial models commissioned by Universities UK, which represents academic employers, predict the changes would trim pension income by £2,000 to £5,000 per year, while the UCU says that figure is closer to £10,000 per year.
More than 1 million students are expected to be affected by ...
