University academics were urged yesterday to back plans for a marking boycott and refuse to set exams in response to crippling attacks on their pensions.

Umbrella group Universities UK has set out plans to ditch the final salary element of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and introduce a much riskier defined contribution system, union UCU argued.

USS is the pension scheme for staff at Britain’s so-called “old” universities including selective institutions like the Russell Group.

A ballot was launched by UCU on Wednesday October 1, asking members across 69 universities to back plans for the action that would stop students being set coursework or receiving formal marks and feedback, as well as halting exams.

UCU’s head of bargaining Michael MacNeil said: “Staff see their pensions as deferred pay and these changes could dramatically alter people’s retirement plans.

“We have made it very clear in this ballot that if members back industrial action, and there is no negotiated solution, we will be looking to quickly move to an assessment and exam boycott.”

The ballot closes on Monday October 20.