Lecturers' pensions action suspended

The UCU union’s dispute over the USS pensions scheme in older universities has been suspended for talks, following a meeting in Manchester last Thursday.

The union’s leadership presented delegates with an impossible choice between suspending the action and an all-out strike.

Despite this setback, lecturers should vote yes to strike alongside other unions over pay. A pay ballot began on Tuesday of this week.

Lecturers are voting to elect a casual further education member to the UCU union’s national executive committee. Socialist Worker supports UCU Left candidate Mandy Brown from Lambeth College, south London.

Lecturers there were set to strike for two hours on Wednesday of this week to defend conditions. Voting in the election ends on Thursday of next week.