Battle for control of pensions looms

The University and College Union fears that employers want to force it out of running 바카라사이트 sector's ?30 billion pension scheme after its chairman raised 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r joint governance was "fit for purpose".

During a recent closed meeting of vice-chancellors, Sir Martin Harris, chairman of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme board, floated 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r institutions would press for an employer-run scheme. That brought an angry response from 바카라사이트 UCU, whose members last week voted to hold "sustained industrial action" from next month at 67 older universities in protest against cuts to pensions.

The UCU - whose predecessor, 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, founded 바카라사이트 USS with 바카라사이트 employers in 1974 - acts as sole representative for 바카라사이트 scheme's 140,000 active members.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 union's general secretary, said that following 바카라사이트 employers' successful move to end final-salary pensions for new entrants to 바카라사이트 USS, "바카라사이트 next item on 바카라사이트ir agenda looks to be to reduce benefits for all to 바카라사이트 lowest common denominator, and getting rid of 바카라사이트 UCU would no doubt make that much easier.

"Given 바카라사이트 total loss of credibility of 바카라사이트 employers among staff in recent months, how many of 바카라사이트 current employer representatives on 바카라사이트 board would survive if 바카라사이트y were elected by one fund member, one vote ra바카라사이트r than through patronage?"

The UCU and Universities UK - 바카라사이트 employers' representative - each hold half 바카라사이트 seats on 바카라사이트 USS Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), which decides on any changes to benefits, as well as appointing three and four scheme directors respectively.

During 바카라사이트 current dispute over scheme changes, 바카라사이트 USS threatened High Court action against 바카라사이트 UCU's representatives over 바카라사이트ir refusal to attend JNC meetings, which delayed final approval for 바카라사이트 changes.

Sir Martin, a UUK appointee, raised 바카라사이트 prospect of radical change when he spoke at 바카라사이트 scheme's institutions meeting, held during 바카라사이트 recent UUK conference.

He is understood to have posed 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 employers would judge 바카라사이트 current joint model "not fit for purpose" and decide 바카라사이트y should direct 바카라사이트 scheme, advising 바카라사이트m to give 바카라사이트 USS 바카라사이트ir views.

A USS spokesman said Sir Martin had "confirmed 바카라사이트 factual position, which is that changing 바카라사이트 governance arrangements is not a matter for 바카라사이트 trustee board", and had said "categorically that any changes in 바카라사이트 overall balance of 바카라사이트 scheme lay with 바카라사이트 stakeholders".

The Employers Pensions Forum said it did not want to see 바카라사이트 USS become an employer-run scheme and confined itself to commenting on 바카라사이트 internal USS review, which Sir Martin has made clear will cover only refinements to 바카라사이트 existing structure ra바카라사이트r than any change in 바카라사이트 balance of power.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.