Workers at the University of Dundee will be balloted on strike action over a long-running dispute following the rejection of revised pension proposals, the union Unite has announced.

Over 100 workers will participate the ballot, which will run from 23 May until 10 June, with Unite adding that industrial action is likely to commence with the beginning of the new academic year in September.

The dispute stems from the University of Dundee’s previous proposal to close the defined benefit pension scheme to grades 1-6 and replace it with a defined contribution scheme.

According to Unite, the changes would mean that a worker with 20 years’ service stands to lose around £1,600 each year in retirement and could disproportionally affect female workers who make up 70 per cent of the current scheme’s existing members.

Unite’s members backed strike action in October 2021 but postponed taking further action after the University of Dundee agreed to remove the defined contribution proposal.

The university has proposed to keep the scheme open but close it to new entrants, as well as increasing the retirement age from 65 to 68 and the scheme’s accrual rate from 1/80ths to 1/100ths.

The university’s latest proposals were rejected by Unite’s members in a consultative ballot by 94 per cent.

Unite industrial officer, Susan Robertson, commented: “The mandate and turnout in our recent consultative ballot over the pension proposals is stronger than it was last October when our members took strike action.

“Our members have had enough and are ready to take action again. Unite’s door always remains open for meaningful consultation and negotiations but if there is no movement by management then they should prepare for long-term disruption starting in the new academic year.”

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