Jeremy Corbyn has sent "solidarity and thanks" to university workers as members of the University and College Union begin a month of walkouts in the latest stage of a bitter dispute over pensions.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at 64 UK institutions are staging the first in a series of strikes after voting in favour of industrial action.

In a video message, the Labour leader said his party was "deeply concerned" about proposed changes to the pensions scheme, as he urged employers to commit to negotiations.

Universities UK maintains the pension scheme has a deficit of more than £6 billion that cannot be ignored, and that changes are necessary.

More than a million students could face disruption to lectures and classes today as tens of thousands of workers are expected to take part in the walkouts.

University workers begin a month of walkouts in the latest stage of a bitter dispute over pensions (
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Employers argue that the pension scheme is billions of pounds in deficit, while the union says the proposals would leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement.

Strikes will take place today and tomorrow, with more in the coming weeks if there is no resolution, building up to a five-day walkout in the week beginning March 12.

Polling of undergraduates published by the striking Universities and College Union shows that the majority (61%) support strike action by university staff, with nearly a fifth (19%) opposed.

Asked who is most to blame for the pensions dispute, half (50%) of those polled agreed it is the university employers, with two per cent saying it is university staff and a fifth (20%) saying both parties are equally to blame.

Jeremy Corbyn gave his support to the striking workers

Mr Corbyn said: "On behalf of the Labour Party , I want to send solidarity and thanks for all the work you do in our universities and colleges. We are deeply concerned by the proposed changes to the USS that would leave our university staff up to £10,000 a year worse off in retirement.

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"It's been great to see strong support from students for striking staff, but for everyone's sake we need to find a solution which avoids further disruption.

"So I join staff and students in calling for the employers to commit now to meaningful negotiations, through Acas if necessary, to resolve this dispute."

In his video message, Mr Corbyn also said: "Downgrading the pension scheme will affect recruitment, retention and ultimately our ability to offer world-class higher education.

"Everyone deserves the dignity and security in old age that comes from a decent pension."

On the eve of the action, Universities Minister Sam Gyimah warned UUK and UCU that they must resolve the "damaging and avoidable impasse" for the sake of students and the reputation of UK universities.