It is, warned the University and College Union, a taste of things to come as a long-running battle with the Conservative-led coalition turns nasty.
Tens of thousands of lecturers joined picket lines to protest at changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme – higher contributions as well as an increase in the pension age – as well as a second successive annual pay cut in real terms.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “University and college staff really value their pension rights and have made their views of these 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 of being told their pay and pensions need to be cut to pay for an economic crisis created by others.”
Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham accused Michael Gove of turning back the clock and introducing grammar schools – and a two-tier education system – by the back door. He said: “Michael Gove seems to have a plan for some schools and some children but not all schools and all children.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Education, in response to fears that free schools could be exploited by fundamentalist churches to promote “a literal and loony interpretation of the Bible”, has said that Mr Gove is “crystal clear that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact”.
