Striking staff at the University of Bradford who were on the picket lines yesterday over a national pensions row believe their action has made an impact – so far.

Yesterday there were four pickets, three at the main campus and one at the University’s School of Management in Frizinghall in protest against changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension fund.

Dr Gary Slater, of the University and College Union (UCU), said the pickets got a good turnout and many staff and students chose to stay away from the campus as a show of support.

“It’s a lot quieter on campus than it usually it is which shows the strength of feeling and support we’ve got.

“We’ve had students bring us flapjack and biscuits and passing traffic hooting their horns,” he said.

As well as lecturers, it was also librarians and researchers who joined the picket lines.

Tomorrow there will be more strike action over pension changes and job security, and pickets will be joined by UCU members from other colleges and universities.

Dr Slater said: “It’s very worrying. People have expectations when they pay into the scheme and now they stand to lose a lot. Job security is also a concern.

“Our union wants a framework to try to minimise any losses and to try to keep skills and talents.”

Union officials said they shared students’ frustrations that the employers were refusing to come back to the negotiating table.

The National Union of Students has written to the employers urging them to join UCU for talks and to try to avoid strike action.

Bradford is one of 47 English universities where industrial action is taking place.

  • Read the full story in Wednesday's T&A