Fighting fund banner

 

UCU members to be consulted over latest USS pension dispute proposals

28 March 2018

UCU members will be consulted next week over proposals aimed at resolving the university pensions dispute.

Representatives from UCU branches at the universities in dispute over changes to the USS pension scheme and the union's higher education committee (HEC) met today. After seeking some clarification, including that the defined benefit element of the scheme would be maintained while a joint-expert panel considers the valuation of the USS fund, HEC voted to put the proposals to members in a ballot.

The union said that because of new rules under the trade union act it had also served notice of strike action at 13 universities to begin on 16 April as part of a fresh wave of industrial action aimed at targeting the last weeks of teaching, and the exam and assessment period.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: 'These latest proposals were won by the solid action of UCU members and now is the time for them to have their say on what happens next.'

The union said if the dispute was not resolved there would be action targeted to hit teaching and the exam and assessment period at all 65 universities, to be confirmed at a later date. How many strike days institutions would face during the exam and assessment period would depend on any earlier action in April aimed at teaching.

All universities would be hit with another 14 days of strikes covering either teaching and exams or just the exam period.  Universities have already been hit with 14 days of strikes as part of action that began on 22 February.

Twelve universities will be hit with a full week's strike from Monday 16 - Friday 20 April. Bangor University will be out on 16, 17 and 19 April.

16-20 April (five days)

Brunel University

University of Cardiff

Cranfield University

University of Dundee

University of Leeds

Loughborough University

University of Manchester

University of Oxford

Ruskin College

University of Salford

University of Southampton

University of St Andrews

16, 17 & 19 April (three days)

Bangor University

Last updated: 9 April 2018