Two articles in last week’s TES - “Pensions dispute escalates as union backs further action” and “It’s ‘testing, testing’ times in leadership battle at UCU” - outline a clear debate over strategy in the University and College Union over the way to defend members’ pensions. Like other unions, it believes the “final offer” from government did not warrant a ballot of members as it did not represent a significant improvement on previous proposals.

The executive’s call for strike action in March has been echoed by the NUT and now the Educational Institute of Scotland unions.

The government is unable to put forward a credible case for the reform of public-sector pensions, yet is still intent on imposing changes. Without a campaign of sustained industrial action, alongside other unions, we will see our members and their families suffer a huge blow. That is why it is crucial that the UCU acts alongside those other unions willing to reject the derisory current deal.

James Eaden, Chesterfield College, member of the UCU national executive committee.