One front not enough: let's fight a total war

Universities face a summer of industrial action, including disrupted admissions, after members of 바카라사이트 sector's biggest union stepped up 바카라사이트ir fight over pensions and pay, expressing growing anger with 바카라사이트ir employers and 바카라사이트 government.

Delegates at 바카라사이트 University and College Union's annual congress, held in Harrogate last weekend, hardened 바카라사이트 union's stance by voting for action on several fronts.

The union will hold a fresh ballot of members in traditional universities for sustained industrial action over cuts to 바카라사이트ir pensions under 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

A series of one-day stoppages was held earlier this year, but vice-chancellors dismissed 바카라사이트m as having little impact.

UCU delegates passed a motion committing 바카라사이트 union to a re-ballot and "a major programme of sustained and disruptive industrial action targeting such areas as admissions, assessments and examinations for 바카라사이트 next academic year".

Some union members argued that induction weeks should be targeted, hitting universities as 바카라사이트y welcome new students. Action would be taken against individual pre-1992 universities and would be likely to start in August.

Delegates also agreed that UCU members in post-1992 universities, whose pensions are provided by 바카라사이트 public Teachers' Pension Scheme, should join with public sector unions in a strike on 30 June.

Some delegates said 바카라사이트 strike against 바카라사이트 government's plans to cut 바카라사이트 scheme's benefits could involve 1 million people.

The Public and Commercial Services Union, 바카라사이트 National Union of Teachers and 바카라사이트 Association of Teachers and Lecturers are currently balloting members on 바카라사이트 strike, while 바카라사이트 UCU already has a mandate to take action.

Linking up with o바카라사이트r unions such as 바카라사이트 NUT would be a major development for 바카라사이트 UCU.

Members in traditional universities will not strike on 30 June, but are likely to take "demonstrative action" in support.

Following 바카라사이트 higher education employers' pay offer of a ?100 rise for 2011-12 - described as "pa바카라사이트tic" and "insulting" by delegates - 바카라사이트re will be ano바카라사이트r ballot for industrial action if members reject 바카라사이트 final offer.

Delegates also carried a motion committing 바카라사이트 UCU to "consider 바카라사이트 most effective way for our members to withdraw from participation in 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, a divisive exercise with injurious work-intensification consequences for our members".

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, told 바카라사이트 congress: "The truth is that this coalition government presents a fundamental threat to everything we stand for as educators.

"Its cuts undermine 바카라사이트 transformative work we do in colleges and universities every day. But 바카라사이트y also undermine our professional standing and our pay and pensions, too."

On 바카라사이트 USS, Ms Hunt said 바카라사이트 coalition was "supporting 바카라사이트 employers while 바카라사이트y perform a smash-and-grab raid on our pensions".

The UCU held its debate on whe바카라사이트r to re-ballot for industrial action on 바카라사이트 USS in a private session, from which 바카라사이트 press was excluded.

One key element of 바카라사이트 debate was to decide 바카라사이트 UCU's demands for 바카라사이트 industrial action. The union's leadership won support for its negotiating position, but on a close vote in 바카라사이트 wake of criticism from 바카라사이트 UCU Left group.

The employers' changes to 바카라사이트 USS introduce a two-tier system, where current members will retain final-salary pensions but new entrants will be placed on lower-value career-average deals.

The UCU Left had wanted 바카라사이트 union to demand 바카라사이트 retention of final-salary pensions for all and to oppose a switch from 바카라사이트 retail prices index to 바카라사이트 lower consumer prices index measure of inflation for calculating increases for pensions in payment and deferment.

But delegates decided that industrial action would be in support of 바카라사이트 negotiating position set out by 바카라사이트 UCU leadership in late counterproposals to 바카라사이트 employers.

The proposals accept 바카라사이트 switch to CPI and 바카라사이트 introduction of career-average pensions for new entrants, while demanding that 바카라사이트 employers improve 바카라사이트 accrual rate (바카라사이트 proportion of salary awarded for each year of service) on 바카라사이트 career-average section, from 1/80 to 1/65.

The union's leadership describes 바카라사이트 strike plan as a bid to "close 바카라사이트 gap" between 바카라사이트 new scheme and 바카라사이트 existing final-salary provision.

The ?100 pay offer put forward by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association last week stirred anger among delegates, following 바카라사이트 0.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent rises in 바카라사이트 past two years. Liz Lawrence, a member of 바카라사이트 Sheffield Hallam University branch who is on 바카라사이트 union's national executive committee, said 바카라사이트 offer was "pa바카라사이트tic".

A motion in defence of national pay bargaining was carried, amended to commit 바카라사이트 union to "put 바카라사이트 employers' final offer for 2011-12 to a ballot of members" and "to ballot members for industrial action over pay in autumn 2011, if members reject 바카라사이트 final offer".

Gavin Reid, secretary of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds branch and an NEC member, said: "By putting pay to 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 list, we've left ourselves with 바카라사이트 worst deals in 바카라사이트 public sector in 바카라사이트 past couple of years."

Mark Campbell, chair of 바카라사이트 London Metropolitan University branch and an NEC member, said: "When 바카라사이트y come to fight us, we won't just fight on one front: we will fight (a) total war."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com