‘Compensate students from lecturers’ pay’

UNIVERSITIES should use the money they would have paid to striking lecturers to compensate students for disruption to their courses, an education minister has said.

Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, said he expected all universities affected by industrial action to make sure that money not paid to lecturers is spent for “student benefit”. A bitter row over pensions between university bosses and union officials resulted in walkouts at dozens of institutions on Thursday in the first wave of action that is set to continue in coming weeks.

Lecturers are ready to escalate their protests and if a resolution cannot be found action will culminate with a fiveday walkout beginning on March 12.

Mr Gyimah said students who have their education disrupted must be compensated. “I expect all universities af- fected to make clear any money not paid to lecturers – as a consequence of strike action – will go towards student benefit including compensation,” he said.

University heads are to meet for talks with the University and College Union, which represents staff, tomorrow. However, a leaked email stated that Universities UK will not go back on plans to make changes to the pension scheme.