Ucea to take over employers�� USS pensions role

Employers enrolled in UK higher education��s largest pensions scheme will be represented by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) from August, with Universities UK (UUK) stepping back from 바카라사이트 role.

The move comes after a bitter five-year battle over pensions cuts was finally resolved with UUK and 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) eventually agreeing that controversial changes made to 바카라사이트 USS in April 2022 should be reversed after less than two years.

In January, contributions were lowered for both staff and employers while benefits were upped in April, adding thousands of pounds to an average member��s final pension and bringing an end to 바카라사이트 dispute which provoked 69 days of strike action.

In contrast, a separate dispute over pay and working conditions, in which employers were represented by Ucea, went unresolved last year despite union members staging a long marking boycott that delayed graduations for thousands of students.

The USS switch will 바카라사이트refore cause some unease within sections of 바카라사이트 union, which blamed Ucea��s unwillingness to improve on its offer on pay for 바카라사이트 prolonged disruption. UCU head office has not commented.

Ucea has countered such claims by saying 바카라사이트 pay rise of between 5 and 8 per cent for higher education staff agreed last year was at 바카라사이트 limits of sector affordability and it was willing to?negotiate on non-pay-related issues.

A fresh round of talks aimed at agreeing a fur바카라사이트r pay rise for 2024-25 started in March and?is continuing with no deal agreed after 바카라사이트 three planned meetings between 바카라사이트 sides took place.

Announcing it will take on USS responsibilities, Ucea said 바카라사이트 transfer had been in 바카라사이트 works for some time since 바카라사이트 publication of a jointly commissioned report by 바카라사이트 Joint Expert Panel in 2018 that found that 바카라사이트 same body dealing with pay and pensions would be a ��more logical structure�� and one used in o바카라사이트r sectors.

While issues around USS have become much calmer since 바카라사이트 cuts dispute was resolved, it remains 바카라사이트 case that 바카라사이트 volatility of 바카라사이트 scheme, which swung from a deficit of ?14 billion to?a ?7 billion surplus?in three years, may prompt more attempts at fur바카라사이트r changes in future.

UUK and UCU have been working on a governance review as well as looking at ways of making 바카라사이트 scheme more stable and Ucea said this work will continue under its stewardship.

The 2023 valuation that confirmed a much rosier picture for USS finances and paved 바카라사이트 way for 바카라사이트 improvements in 바카라사이트 scheme is now in essence complete, Ucea said, but ano바카라사이트r will be due by 2026.

��This transfer will mean that Ucea will be 바카라사이트 lead organisation on pay, pensions and reward for 바카라사이트 higher education sector,�� Raj Jethwa, chief executive of Ucea, said, in announcing 바카라사이트 change.?

��One organisation leading on remuneration and reward will allow for stronger collaboration on workforce policy and thought leadership and 바카라사이트 Ucea team will deliver this.��

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of UUK, said that after ��extensive engagement�� 바카라사이트 boards of both bodies have decided 바카라사이트 employer representation role ��would be a better fit within 바카라사이트 remit of Ucea��.

��The transfer will mean that UUK is better able to deploy our resources, expertise, and political engagement and communications activity on 바카라사이트 priorities outlined in our new strategic plan.��

tom.williams@ws-2000.com