LONDON, October 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- Date: 17th October 2008

- Location: University of Sussex main campus entrance directly off A27 Worthing to Lewes.

Unite members working at the University of Sussex will take a further day of strike action in a dispute over pensions tomorrow (Friday 17th October).

Unite will be demonstrating at pickets which will be in place from 8 am on the 17th October in a dispute which will cause disruption to the university's laboratories.

The university has announced it intends to close its existing staff pension scheme to all new starters. It is also trying to pass off any future deficit problems on a shared basis between the existing support staff and the university. On top of this, it is trying to force up contributions for existing staff and reduce the university's contribution rate. However, because the management participates in the national Universities Superannuation Scheme, they are safe from the detrimental changes they are proposing to the local pension scheme.

Unite national officer, Mike Robinson, says: "The pensions of the management at Sussex are safe, but the university is trying to force detrimental changes on other staff to create a three tier workforce.

"Our members are determined to defend new starters rights to a decent pension and to stop the erosion of their existing scheme."

Unite have made numerous attempts to contact the management who have not made any contact with the union since 27th August.

"We believe damage is being done to teaching because of management's intransigence. The university Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, was only too ready to talk to academic staff about his visions for the future but has totally ignored his support staff," added Mr Robinson.

For further information please contact Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on +44(0)20-7420-8914 or +44(0)7980-224761