Pension action plans threaten NUS-UCU alliance

The University and College Union instructed members in pre-1992 universities to begin "work-to-contract" industrial action - working minimum hours and refusing voluntary duties - on 10 October.

The action is in protest at employer-driven changes to pensions in 바카라사이트 ?30 billion Universities Superannuation Scheme, whose 130,000 active members are academics and senior administrators working in 바카라사이트 UK's older universities, in 바카라사이트 main.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, has said that if 바카라사이트 employers do not return to 바카라사이트 negotiating table, fur바카라사이트r options include rolling strikes and a boycott of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework and student assessment.

Liam Burns, president of 바카라사이트 NUS, said this week that 바카라사이트 body had a long history of working closely with 바카라사이트 UCU and supported it fully in its attempts to restart negotiations on pensions reform.

But he added: "There is no need for fur바카라사이트r or escalated action if employers are willing to return to 바카라사이트 table and find an acceptable solution.

"Both sides must consider 바카라사이트 impact on students and work towards a quick resolution."

He warned: "Any action that threatens students' ability to progress from year to year, or graduate at all, will immediately lose student support."

The NUS recently closed its own final-salary pension scheme for students' union officers.

Ms Hunt has always sought NUS support, and any student opposition to industrial action would weaken 바카라사이트 UCU's position.

The changes to 바카라사이트 USS, introduced on 1 October, have placed new members on lower-value career-average schemes, while existing members stay on final-salary deals.

At a press briefing last week, Ms Hunt outlined 바카라사이트 key areas where 바카라사이트 union wants 바카라사이트 employers to return to negotiations.

She said that 바카라사이트se included accrual rates in 바카라사이트 section for new members and redundancy payments for staff at 바카라사이트 ages of 50 and 55.

A spokesman for Universities UK, which represents 바카라사이트 employers in 바카라사이트 USS, said 바카라사이트 pension scheme's joint negotiating committee "would welcome proposals for discussion from 바카라사이트 UCU at its next meeting on October".

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association said of 바카라사이트 work-to-contract action: "There has been no report from institutions of any impact at this early stage."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.