Universities face 14 days of strike action over pensions
Top universities face 14 days of strike action, starting next month, if a row over planned changes to staff pensions is not resolved.
Overall, 61 universities could be affected after members of the University and College Union voted in favour of industrial action.
Staff fear the changes could cost an average lecturer £200,000 over the course of their retirement.
The umbrella group Universities UK called the ballot result disappointing.
Last-ditch talks are due to be held on Tuesday and if they fail, the union says:
strikes will begin on 22 February with a two-day walkout
strikes could escalate to blocks of up to five days in future weeks
union members will work to contract, refusing to cover classes, do voluntary work or reschedule classes lost on strike days
Pension cuts
Staff are angry at plans to change the Universities Superannuation Scheme from a defined benefit scheme, where they would have a guaranteed income in retirement - to a defined contribution scheme, where their pensions would be subject to changes in the stock market.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "Universities will be hit with levels of strike action not seen before on UK campuses if a deal cannot be done over the future of USS pensions."
The union says it would be happy for talks to be extended to try to reach a deal.
Staff at 68 universities are members of the scheme which last year was reported to have a £17.5bn deficit.
Of these, 61 voted overwhelmingly in favour of action, with 88% in favour of strikes and 93% in favour of action short of a strike, with an overall turnout of 58%.
Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and York are among the universities affected.
At seven institutions the turnout was below the 50% required by law for a ballot to be valid.
