Strike Fears As University Of Chichester Staff Raise Pension Concerns

(c) University of Chichester

University staff in West Sussex could take strike action amid concerns over changes to pension arrangements for new employees at University of Chichester.

The University and College Union (UCU) says new recruits are no longer able to join what it describes as “industry standard pension schemes”, warning the move could leave them significantly worse off in retirement.

Instead, new staff are being offered access to a different pension scheme, which the union claims is “drastically inferior” and does not provide guaranteed income in later life.

The UCU has accused the university of creating a “two-tier workforce” and says a formal ballot and potential industrial action cannot be ruled out.

According to the union, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and Teachers’ Pension Scheme was removed earlier this month after the university stopped directly employing new staff.

It says a separate company has been set up to hire new employees instead.

A UCU spokesperson said the changes could leave workers “many thousands of pounds per year worse off once they retire”.

General secretary Jo Grady added: “Our members will resist this attempt to tear up national agreements, shut down pension access and create a two-tier workforce.

They have the national union’s full backing.”

In response, a spokesperson for the University of Chichester said the institution has been impacted by rising costs and is taking steps to protect its long-term financial sustainability.

They added that the new pension scheme applies only to staff joining after April 1st 2026, with existing employees remaining on their current arrangements unless they choose to switch.

The university also said the proposals had been discussed with trade union representatives in meetings held in September 2025 and February this year.