BREAKING: Sheffield UCU members have rejected a proposed agreement to end strike action

Members of the Sheffield branch of the UCU (University and College Union) have rejected a proposed agreement to end strike action.

The agreement, drawn up between national representatives of the UCU and Universities UK, was sent to members yesterday evening and is to be considered by UCU higher education and branch representatives today.

Over 350 Sheffield UCU members have now voted to reject the agreement, which would involve a three year transitional period for pension changes to take effect, and sets a salary threshold of £42,000.

The agreement also encourages UCU members to "prioritise the rescheduling of teaching in order to minimise the disruption to students", which many feel sets a damaging precedent for future strike action.

The hashtag #NoCapitulation has trended nationally on social media, among academics and union branches who do not feel that the deal is sufficient to end strike action.

Sheffield Students' Union Education Officer Stuart McMillan posted on Twitter:

"Incredibly disappointing deal from UCU leadership. This strike has shaken Higher Education to the bone, we can't let them throw away what we've built. Solidarity to all members and branches that will be rejecting this bullshit."

Other Sheffield higher education activists have described the proposals as "a joke of a deal" and "rights being taken away".

An emergency protest today by Sheffield Marxist Society, the Free University of Sheffield, Sheffield Socialist Students and Sheffield Labour Students called on the UCU to fully reject the agreement.

The rejection of the agreement by the Sheffield UCU branch means that strike action looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.