Support staff at the University of Strathclyde have voted decisively for strike action, with 94% backing industrial action in a dispute over proposed pension changes.
The dispute centres on the university’s plan to move approximately 1,100 workers from the Strathclyde Pension Fund (SPF) to a different superannuation scheme, which Unite claims could leave workers thousands of pounds worse off annually.
The university is reportedly seeking to access a pension surplus of nearly £100 million through this change.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham commented:
“Unite’s members at the University of Strathclyde have emphatically backed strike action. Pensions are deferred wages which our members contribute towards over many years for their retirement.”
The affected workers include technicians, cleaners, security personnel, and maintenance staff such as plumbers, joiners, and electricians.
The union argues that the changes are unnecessary, pointing to the university’s strong financial position, including a £46.8 million surplus in 2023 from an income of £487.4 million.
The university made a last-minute attempt to modify its pension proposals before the ballot result, which the union described as “cynical”.
While specific strike dates have not yet been announced, Unite has indicated they will be revealed soon.
