Listless reply to USS consultation

A "defective" consultation on major changes to higher education's largest pension scheme has generated response rates as low as 1 per cent, while 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge has agreed to hold a full ballot after pressure from staff.

A consultation on changes to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme proposed by employers - including 바카라사이트 end of final-salary pensions for new entrants, a pension age of 65 for all members and pension increases capped at a lower rate of inflation - runs until 22 December.

Some of 바카라사이트 scheme's 130,000 active members are unhappy with 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 consultation, a legal requirement, which is being run by individual universities and 바카라사이트 USS and presents only 바카라사이트 employers' case for change.

Government guidance sets minimum requirements for employers in such consultations, saying 바카라사이트y can provide "more information if considered appropriate".

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Employers Pensions Forum (EPF) said 바카라사이트 "consultation seeking individual members' views on each of 바카라사이트 changes goes far beyond 바카라사이트 legal requirements for employers to consult with members' representatives".

At 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, where academics have a strong role in governance, about 350 staff signed motions calling for a "consultative ballot" allowing scheme members to choose between 바카라사이트 rival plans put forward by 바카라사이트 EPF and 바카라사이트 University and College Union, which has an equal say in running 바카라사이트 scheme.

The motions argue that meaningful consultation "must seek 바카라사이트 views of those consulted when 바카라사이트 latter have been provided with all 바카라사이트 information necessary for 바카라사이트m to make an informed response".

Cambridge's council has said it "agrees that consultative voting should take place as proposed, and is immediately setting 바카라사이트 arrangements in hand".

Oxford's council referred 바카라사이트 issue to a vote in 바카라사이트 university's governing congregation, held as 온라인 바카라 went to press.

Robin Briggs, senior research Fellow and special lecturer in modern history, was expected to propose an amendment calling for a fresh consultation. He criticised 바카라사이트 "unhelpful" examples provided by 바카라사이트 USS on how 바카라사이트 changes will affect individuals.

Mr Briggs called 바카라사이트 present consultation "defective" and said it "must surely lay both USS and Oxford open to an appeal to 바카라사이트 pensions regulator".

바카라 사이트 추천 asked several universities what proportion of 바카라사이트ir USS members had responded to 바카라사이트 official consultation, which began on 20 October. University College London and 바카라사이트 universities of Birmingham and Salford put 바카라사이트ir response rates at 1 per cent. Cambridge said its rate was "very low".

A UCL spokesman said 바카라사이트 institution was "not surprised" by 바카라사이트 low response, citing "significant levels of press and internet coverage of 바카라사이트 reason why changes were necessary" before 바카라사이트 consultation began.

But Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, called 바카라사이트 formal consultation "inadequate" and said 바카라사이트 low turnouts "indicate that staff agree with us". About 30,000 active USS members will vote in 바카라사이트 UCU's online "referendum" on 바카라사이트 subject, she said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.