NORTHUMBRIA University staff will ballot for strike action over plans to change their pension scheme, the University and College Union said today.

Proposals to move them from their current Teachers’ Pension Scheme to the Universities Superannuation Scheme would leave them significantly worse off, says UCU. 

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.”

Members will ballot from December 15.

A spokesperson for Northumbria University said: “We have repeatedly affirmed our intention to work in partnership with UCU to develop a way forward that safeguards the university’s long-term financial sustainability, while continuing to offer competitive terms and conditions for our staff, and we are disappointed they have launched a ballot for industrial action before negotiations have even begun.”