Lecturers go out on strike for day
LECTURERS missed lessons at The University of Northampton and Northampton College as they went on strike to campaign for a fair pension.
A picket line of around 30 was formed outside the Lower Mounts site of Northampton College yesterday as members of the University and College Union (UCU) voiced their objections about cuts to their pensions.
Staff from the college brandished placards and posters to raise awareness about the Government’s proposed changes.
Jim McKellar, secretary of the Northampton branch of the UCU, said: “This is about teachers being attacked by the government. A lot of people think we have got gold plated pensions but that’s not the case.”
Some staff went on strike at the university but Moulton College said none of its lectures were affected.
Demonstrations across the town were part of a nationwide campaign against the changes to teachers’ pensions.
Mr McKellar added: “We can’t live on the pension that is being offered and this is really going to affect young teachers just coming into the professions. I think it will even put people off teaching.”
A spokesman for The University of Northampton said: “The university, along with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, is disappointed at the UCU decision to take industrial action across the higher education sector. There is concern UCU may be confusing its members, staff and students by combining three separate ballot outcomes relating to pay, pensions and job protection into one day of action.
“At the same time, The University of Northampton has done everything possible to ensure minimal, if any, disruption to lectures and tutorials.”
Principal of Northampton College, Len Closs, said: “The industrial action concerns proposals to make amendments to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme as part of a Government review of public sector pensions and contributes to a wider national campaign.
“We remain committed to the welfare and progress of our students and have made every effort to ensure their learning is not disrupted.”
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
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willi eckaslyke
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 01:43 PMmarshmallow....so it's just as we've suspected then - your compadres in the lower levels of education are making a right pig's ear of it....Way back in the dark ages, I don't remember any kids at school not being able to read and write.....'Composition', as it was known then was an important part our learning.....There's a distinct sense these days, that teachers only become teachers if nobody else will have them.....In those days, teachers were 'proper' people and commanded respect.
marshmallow
Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 08:44 PMDear Love Child, Contrary to your view that teaching staff in the further and higher education are surplus to requirement, I would like to inform you that there is a great need for support with literacy. Your own post is clear evidence of this. The ignorance of your opinions further adds weight to the argument that trying to educate people is no small task.
lady muck
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 08:24 AMLove Child...there's a great variance..the lecturers I know, work extremely hard, but I'm sure that there are many slackers and easy riders.I am familiar with the Teachers Pension It's not 'gold plated' but it's not bad...partly contributory and based on the final 3 years salary). This might explain the rush to get up the scale at 57 ! Of course, what the teachers and lecturers say, is that if they had known that the pension scheme would change, then they would have chosen some other profession. They ignore the fact that almost everybody has had changes to their pensions (Bank & Insurance Staff, for example have had reduced pensions imposed and also redundancy).
Love Child
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 06:51 AMWho would notice if they were on strike or not, modern day students its a breeze hardly any lectures, hence lecturers have it easy, its just an easy life, they do need their pensions to support their ongoing life of leisure
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