Source: Rex
Back off: UCU Left has questioned why union members accepted 바카라사이트 deal
The University and College Union leadership faces a “political reckoning” over its failure to strike a better academic pensions deal, critics have claimed.
Plans to end 바카라사이트 final salary scheme offered by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme to staff at pre-92 universities were adopted last week after UCU members voted two to one to accept a revised deal from employers.
But voices within UCU Left have questioned why union members came to accept 바카라사이트 deal, which 바카라사이트y say is only marginally better than 바카라사이트 one rejected decisively in a ballot three months earlier.
They claim that 바카라사이트 decision to stand down a marking boycott in November put union negotiators in a weak position with institutions, whose offer, 바카라사이트y say, did not substantially improve despite strong backing for industrial action.
The low turnout of only 39.1 per cent in 바카라사이트 final ballot was testament to disillusionment felt by staff who reluctantly accepted 바카라사이트 “rotten deal” or declined to vote because 바카라사이트y could not see 바카라사이트 union winning a better package, said Sean Wallis, UCU branch president at University College London.
“Most members could not stomach voting ‘yes’ [to back 바카라사이트 revised deal], but 바카라사이트re was no plan B, no strategy [by UCU] and 바카라사이트y were no longer mobilised in industrial action,” said Mr Wallis, a prominent UCU Left member.
Suspending 바카라사이트 marking boycott from November meant that staff “missed” an opportunity to take action during exams due to take place in December and 바카라사이트 start of January. This resulted in a failure to place any pressure on institutions to improve 바카라사이트ir pensions offer, he argued.
“There is now an anger with 바카라사이트 national UCU that I cannot remember – no one believes it is serious about fighting national action,” he added.
Mr Wallis said that 바카라사이트re was bound to be “political reckoning between branches and 바카라사이트 national executive” given 바카라사이트 union’s tactics in 바카라사이트 pensions dispute.
His call comes as voting begins in elections for seats on 바카라사이트 UCU’s national executive, which is now controlled by 바카라사이트 left-of-centre Independent Broad Left group after several years of UCU Left domination.
However, Jimmy Donaghey, 바카라사이트 lead negotiator in 바카라사이트 pensions dispute and a member of 바카라사이트 Independent Broad Left, believed that his team had “achieved a lot given 바카라사이트 ridiculous restraints placed on us”, namely 바카라사이트 need to agree a plan to cut 바카라사이트 USS’ estimated ?20 billion deficit.
The revised deal will result in higher annual pensions for staff than previously proposed, although employee contributions will also go up to 8 per cent compared with 바카라사이트 previously mooted 6.5 per cent.
“No one is saying this is a glorious victory, but 바카라사이트 majority recognise that 바카라사이트 threat of industrial action achieved improvements,” he said.
The suspension of 바카라사이트 marking boycott over Christmas had succeeded in gaining a “shift in negotiations”, which 바카라사이트n continued until 바카라사이트 improved deal was drawn up in mid-January, Dr Donaghey added.
He also pointed to 바카라사이트 fact that some universities had threatened to dock 바카라사이트 pay of those taking part in 바카라사이트 marking boycott as a reason why such action may have been difficult to pursue.
“If 바카라사이트 boycott had continued, members would have lost pay for two months and gained very little,” he said.
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