Members' views 'do nothing to move things forward', says pensions chief

In a letter to the Times Higher Tony Bruce, a consultant for the Employers Pension Forum, said: 'asking members if they accept or reject the changes would do nothing to move things forward'.

The extraordinary claim comes despite nearly 20,000 USS members registering their support for UCU's referendum on the proposed changes, and the union said that if the current consultation process were to have any legitimacy members must be allowed to vote for or against the plans.

UCU has always recognised some changes are needed in order to ensure the stability of the pension fund. However, it said it does not believe 'draconian' proposals from the employers to force new entrants onto a career-average earning scheme are required for the long term viability of the scheme.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'How can asking members if they are for or against fundamental changes to their pensions be an obstacle to moving things forward? I am stunned that employers are trying to make this claim when nearly 20,000 USS members have already registered their support for a referendum. For the current process to have any legitimacy this has to happen. It's shame that the employers are running scared of finding out what members really think.'