Academics are fighting the wrong battle over pensions

Retirement benefits are indeed declining, and funds are in deficit. But those on zero-hour jobs at universities have it worse

Britain's university sector is a jewel in the nation's crown. It is a world leader in research, generates 20bn in export revenues and is credited with playing a big part in raising the productivity of the UK's workforce during a period of rapid expansion in the 1990s and 2000s.

So successful have universities been in attracting students - even in the teeth of a huge rise in course fees - that they have managed to paper over deep cracks in their finances.

The truth is, the boat marked 'guaranteed pensions' has sailed for all but government employees