STRIKES will take place at the University of York this week, as part of a nationwide row over pensions.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU), have agreed to take part in 14 days of strikes over the next four weeks, which will begin tomorrow.

Almost 18,000 students are expected to be affected by the strikes, which will see staff on picket lines at every entrance to the university from 8am, with UCU members at 63 other universities also walking out in solidarity.

The dispute is over proposed changes to the pension schemes which critics say would leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement than under the current set-up.

Geoffrey Wall, UCU rep at the University of York, said the changes were being pushed through without negotiation with UCU, and urged students to get their vice-chancellors to call for negotiations.

He said: “Nobody wants to take strike action, we feel we have no choice.

"These hardline proposals would slash staff pensions and are simply uncalled for.

“It is staggering that the universities have refused to engage with the union and a real insult to staff and to students.

"We hope students will continue to put pressure on the vice-chancellors to get their reps back round the negotiating table.”

A national strike ballot by UCU members saw 58 per cent turn out, and 88 per cent back strike action.

In York, with a similar turnout, 87 per cent backed strike action.

Strike action begins on Thursday and is set to continue again on Friday this week.

UCU members are also expected to be on picket lines on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

If the deadlock is not broken and strike action averted beforehand, members are also set to picket between Monday, March 5 and Thursday March 8, and again for five days between Monday, March 12 and Friday, March 16.