UNIVERSITY staff across the UK have backed plans for industrial action in a row over changes to pensions.
A ballot by the University and College Union (UCU) resulted in 78 per cent of members supporting strike action, which could include a marking boycott and refusal to set exams.
The action could also stop students being set coursework or receiving formal marks and feedback.
The row centres on the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) which provides pensions for staff at many of the UK's universities including Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Stirling.
The union said proposed changes to the USS prompted by an expected deficit were too simplistic and had not taken into account the strengths of the scheme.
Mary Senior, UCU Scotland official, said: "Our members have made it quite clear they reject the radical changes being proposed for their pensions. We will go into talks hopeful that we can resolve the current impasse, but with a serious mandate from members that they need to see real improvements."
However, a spokesman for Universities UK said he was disappointed the UCU was threatening to hit students with an assessment boycott.
He said: "Everyone is aware pensions are a vital part of the higher education pay and reward package, but the negotiations have not yet concluded. We believe the proposals are the best that can be achieved given the substantial scheme deficit."
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