Huge strike vote at Southampton Solent over brutal fire & rehire pension attack

An overwhelming 93% of staff who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 72%, paving the way for disruption in the new year if management refuses to change course.

Last Thursday (11 December), Solent moved 286 staff off of the university's books and into a subsidiary company, Solent University Services Ltd (SUSL), forcing them out of the industry standard Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and onto a scheme that allows Solent to get away with paying less into staff pensions, leaving them poorer.

The preceding day (Wednesday 10 December), university management told the 286 staff to email HR by "close of business" if they "object to the transfer" and their employment would then cease immediately.

Earlier this term, Solent vice-chancellor Professor James Knowles said he intends to move all staff, not just the current 286 impacted, into SUSL. This would mean those currently in the Teachers' Pension Scheme will also be forced onto an inferior pension.

While the pension cuts are presented as a TUPE transfer, Solent's plans mirror the most egregious fire and rehire practices, such as those seen at P&O, as staff are being forced to accept brutal cuts to their retirement benefits or lose their jobs.

During the consultation process, UCU submitted alternative proposals to the university that would have protected pension benefits, but management refused to engage with the arguments made by the union.

Solent UCU Branch President Stephen Desmond said: 'This huge vote for strike action shows how enraged staff are at management's decision to force colleagues out of their preferred pension scheme. The vice-chancellor must now see sense, start respecting his staff, and begin working with UCU to protect pensions. If he refuses to do so, he is laying the ground for huge disruption in the new year.' 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Management's demand that any staff who wish to remain in the local government pension scheme should email HR so they can then be summarily sacked without notice shows its deep lack of respect for its employees.  Our members have the full weight of the national union behind them in their fight to defend their retirement, and we urge management to do the right thing and change course.'