​Members of the University and College Union (UCU) across Gloucestershire will be on strike tomorrow in a row over changes to staff pensions and pay as part of a national day of strike action at universities and colleges across the UK.

Staff in six universities and colleges will walk out in a row over plans for greater pension contributions from staff, reduced pension benefits and an increase in the pension age, against a backdrop of a second consecutive real-terms annual pay cut.

Staff at the following centres are expected to take part in the action: Gloucestershire College (including Royal Forest of Dean campus), Hartpury College, Cirencester College, Stroud College and the University of Gloucestershire.

UCU members will be on picket lines across the county from 8am.

UCU members’ action in Gloucestershire is part of the first UK-wide strike in universities for five years and the first in further education colleges since 2008.

The union has received the support of the National Union of Students, despite the likely disruption to their members’ studies.

UCU regional official, Barry Johnson, said: “University and college staff really value their pension rights and have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear. Strike action is always a last resort but the attacks on pensions and pay have created real anger and, instead of burying their heads in the sand, the employers need to respond urgently to our concerns.

“Staff are sick to the back teeth of being told that their pay and pensions need to be cut to pay for an economic crisis created by others.”

A full list of the colleges and universities taking strike action tomorrow (Thursday 24 March) can be found at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5413 (colleges) and http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5414 (universities).