Commenting on today’s strike action, University and
College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said:
‘Thousands of university staff began a new wave of industrial
action as they try to prevent a devastating 35% cut to their
guaranteed retirement income. The response from students has been
overwhelming and I want to thank every single one of them for
standing with us.
‘These strikes over pension cuts were totally avoidable, but
university employers have so far failed to accept compromise
proposals put forward by UCU which would have protected pensions
and avoided disruptive industrial action. Further strikes can be
called off, but first employers must accept UCU’s proposals. Vice
chancellors should not doubt the resolve of our members who are
determined to stick this out and win what they deserve.’
Notes
The Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association has told university bosses
to withhold pay of staff taking action short of strike.
University staff on the ground have reported huge numbers of
staff and supportive students joining picket lines. Please use
UCU’s Twitter account to download and
publish images of picket lines.
This week’s strike action is over pension cuts and staff at 44
institutions are on strike. Next Monday (21 February) strike
action over pay and working conditions will also take place. In
total, more than 50,000 staff at 68 universities across
the UK have a mandate to strike. To
resolve the pension dispute UCU is demanding employers revoke
their pension cuts.
Employer representatives only just began consulting on UCU’s
pension proposals yesterday, despite receiving them two weeks
ago.
Employer representative pension proposals:
- Employers will pay 21.1% (the same as they do currently).
- USS members will pay 9.6% (the same as they do currently).
- Accrual will be reduced from 1/75 to 1/85.
- The salary threshold up to which defined benefits are accrued
will be lowered to £40,000.
- Benefits will only be protected against inflation up to 2.5%
(currently benefits receive full protection up to 5% and half
protection against inflation between 5% and 15%).
- There will be no flexible option for members who wish to join
USS and earn a guaranteed pension.
UCU’s counter proposals are that current benefits be retained
until April 2023 at the following increased rates:
- That UUK calls on the pension trustee USS to issue a
moderately prudent, evidence-based valuation of the financial
health of the scheme as at 31 March 2022, to be issued for
consultation in June 2022(at the latest);
- That employers agree to provide the same level of covenant
support as for their own proposals to facilitate a cost-sharing
of current benefits throughout the 2022/23 scheme year, starting
1 April 2022 at 11% member/23.7% employer until 1 October 2022,
and 11.8%/25.2% thereafter
- That employers agree to pay a maximum 25.2% and members a
maximum of 9.8% from 1 April 2023 so as to secure current
benefits or, if not possible, the best achievable as a result of
the call on USS to issue a moderately prudent, evidence-based
valuation.
Member contributions are currently 9.8% and employer
contributions 21.4%. USS has confirmed that the current benefits
can be retained until April 2023 at the increased rates outlined
above.
To resolve the pay & working conditions dispute UCU is
demanding an end to insecure contracts which are currently used
to employ one third of all academic staff.
The union is also demanding £2.5k pay increase for all staff, as
well as action to tackle unmanageable workloads and equality pay
gaps.
