Mediators called in over university pensions row

Lecturers and university leaders last night agreed to enlist Acas, the conciliation service, to mediate in their bitter dispute over pensions.

The University and College Union said strikes would still go ahead today, as well as four days from next Monday, before ending with a five-day walkout from March 12 to 16.

A spokesman for Universities UK said: “Both parties agreed to involve Acas in facilitating further talks to bridge the significant distance between both sides.”