UCU calls pension ballot

Union members are being asked to vote on proposed changes to 바카라사이트 main higher education pension scheme, with 바카라사이트 possibility of industrial action mooted.

As Times Higher Education reported, employers want to scrap final-salary pensions for new entrants to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme and raise 바카라사이트 pension age to 68.

However, 바카라사이트 proposals, tabled after an 18-month review, have clashed with those from members�� representatives, resulting in deadlock when 바카라사이트 parties met this month.

The scheme has about 120,000 active members �C mainly academic and academic-related staff in pre-1992 universities �C and at 31 March 2010 a deficit of ?3 billion.

Now 바카라사이트 University and College Union has called a ballot of its members on 바카라사이트 proposed changes, 바카라사이트 results of which will be announced at its annual congress later this month.

One of 바카라사이트 proposals put forward by 바카라사이트 Employers Pensions Forum (EPF) is that final-salary pensions be closed to new entrants and replaced with a career-average structure.

According to 바카라사이트 UCU��s calculations, this could result in new starters losing ?1,000 over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir retirement compared with current members.

As 바카라 사이트 추천 reported on 6 May, 바카라사이트 union wants a 1 per cent increase in employee contributions, a pension age of 65 for new entrants and future contribution-rate increases to be shared 35:65 between members and employers.

The EPF has proposed an increase in 바카라사이트 pension age to 68 between 2024 and 2046, 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 final-salary structure to new entrants, a 1.15 per cent increase in member contributions and future contribution-rate rises to be split 50:50.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: ��Our members have long seen pensions as deferred pay and an important part of 바카라사이트ir remuneration packages��We do not accept 바카라사이트 argument that because pension schemes have taken a bit of a battering elsewhere that we should join a race to 바카라사이트 bottom. The union is not sticking its head in 바카라사이트 sand and we have made affordable proposals that would protect benefits for all, but unfortunately 바카라사이트 employers seem determined to create a two-tier system.��

She added: ��We are now asking our members involved with 바카라사이트 USS scheme for 바카라사이트ir views on 바카라사이트 employers�� proposals.

��We cannot rule out 바카라사이트 possibility of industrial action to protect our members�� pensions if 바카라사이트 employers continue with 바카라사이트ir intransigent position.��

john.gill@tsleducation.com