{"id":27621,"date":"2018-03-13T18:08:04","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T18:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=27621"},"modified":"2018-03-13T18:08:04","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T18:08:04","slug":"striking-lecturers-march-senedd-pension-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2018\/03\/13\/striking-lecturers-march-senedd-pension-dispute\/","title":{"rendered":"Striking lecturers march on Senedd in pension dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"

STRIKING university lecturers and students marched on the Senedd today in protest against changes to pension agreements.
\nThe Cardiff branch of the University College Union (UCU) held a demonstration outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay today at noon.
\nIt came just hours before it was announced that union members had rejected a three-year interim deal struck between their leaders and employers last night.
\nThe deal would have halted significant changes to pension contributions and payouts for three years, but requires staff to make higher salary contributions to their pensions from April.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re being cheated\u201d, said Cardiff University physics Professor Patrick Sutton.
\n\u201cOur union (UCU) are not trying to screw us over, but they\u2019re doing a good job of it. The proposal says your union is going to be working towards a defined pension contribution scheme over the next three years.
\n\u201cIf we agree to this proposal, your pensions will be gone, in three years you will be left with nothing. So we either stand or we fall, and we do it here, today, now.\u201d
\nDr Steve Davies of Cardiff\u2019s School of Social Sciences said: \u201cThe university\u2019s body UUK is completely misguided. They misjudged the mood of the staff.
\n\u201cPeople who are earning a decent amount now could be ending their working lives on a pension of \u00a39,000, below the minimum wage.\u201d
\nSpeaking to the demonstrators, Dr Davies announced that 20 university unions had today rejected the new proposals, including Bath, Bristol, UCL, and Queen Mary London.
\nCardiff North AM Julie Morgan and Cardiff Central AM Jenny Rathbone addressed the crowd of staff and students, who were joined by Fire and Rescue Service and Labour party representatives.
\nThey were also joined by the assembly members for Caerphilly, Hefin David, Cynon Valley\u2019s Vikki Howells, Aberavon\u2019s David Rees, and Ceredigion\u2019s Elin Jones.
\nJulie Morgan AM said: \u201cWe can\u2019t underestimate what the university sector does for our city here in Cardiff.
\n\u201cThis is an opportunity for us to pay tribute to the work you have all done and the wealth you bring to the city, and above all what you do for the young people.
\n\u201cThis is at a crucial stage now, and you have made a very bold stand. All I want to say now is that we\u2019re in solidarity with you, best of luck, and I\u2019m sure you will achieve a victory.\u201d
\nJenny Rathbone AM echoed Morgan\u2019s comments, saying: \u201cWe need to maximise the student support now for the difficult times that lie ahead.
\n\u201cUniversities have made a fundamental mistake, with a dismissive attitude towards their staff, believing that anybody will do to teach the millions more students they want to pack into lecture theatres.\u201d
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