Strike action hits chemistry departments across the UK

Row over pensions has seen staff walk out for five days with another nine days of strikes planned

Chemistry departments are feeling the effects of five consecutive days of industrial action after staff at more than 60 universities across the UK walked out over a row over cuts to pensions. Lectures have been cancelled and in some cases exams or assessments have been postponed as students demand refunds for lost teaching time. Staff are striking in protest at cuts to their pensions that talks between the University and Colleges Union (UCU) and Universities UK, which represents senior management at UK universities, have failed to resolve. The dispute centres on plans to end the defined benefit element of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension, which would guarantee a retirement income based on salary, in favour of a defined contribution scheme where pensions are dependent of the performance of the stock market.