Hopes rise for an end to university staff strike

THE stalemate between lecturers’ leaders and university officials looks to have come to an end after an agreement was reached in the bitter dispute over pensions.

The University and College Union (UCU) said that talks with Universities UK (UUK) had concluded, and that a transitional benefit arrangement had been agreed on, subject to consultation with its members.

In the talks, mediated by conciliation service Acas, both parties agreed an interim solution where both employers and employees will be required to pay higher pension contributions.

A spokesman for the UCU said the agreement would be considered today.

The interim arrangement says that the transitional period for which higher contributions would need to be paid would be implemented on April 1, 2019, and last for three years.

Members of staff at universities across the country have been striking in protest at changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

A wave of 14 days of strikes is due to end this week.