Strathclyde staff will strike next month over pension dispute

Staff members at the University of Strathclyde are set to go on strike as a result of proposed changes to the university’s pension scheme which they say will leave them worse off.

This comes after Unite the Union announced that 94 per cent of their balloted members at the university voted in favour of industrial action.

They also confirmed that the action will take place over a two week period between March 10th and March 23rd.  

Various key operational departments at the university were balloted and will be involved in the action, including security guards, cleaning staff and technicians; as well as other maintenance workers, such as joiners, electricians and plumbers.

The workers are all members of the Strathclyde Pension Fund.  They say that the university’s proposed changes, which they claim is to access a £100m pension surplus, will leave them thousands worse off each year as a result.

This action comes amidst a revised proposal from the university on the eve of the vote, reportedly without consultation of the union.

Sharon Graham, the General Secretary of Unite said that strike action amongst their members was occurring as ‘their employer is attempting a shameful cash grab on their pensions’.

‘The university have left our members with no option but to take this action because they are furious that their pension pots are at risk.’

📢 @unitetheunion's members at the @UniStrathclyde have emphatically backed strike action.

The university’s shameful cash grab from our hard-working members’ #pension pots will be vigorously resisted.https://t.co/Gb15jkZh9k

— Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) February 14, 2025

When approached by The Glasgow Tab for comment, a spokesperson for the University of Strathclyde said: ‘Having engaged in extensive consultation over many months, we are disappointed with the trade union’s decision to ask its members to undertake strike action.’

‘We will now take all necessary steps to mitigate the disruption that strike action may have on our students and their studies.’

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‘Following further consultation with our staff we have recently shared an enhanced pension proposal. The University remains committed to providing an excellent pension provision to its staff. A decision regarding the proposed change of pension provider has not yet been made.’

Featured image via Pexels