UCU members back strikes over pensions but turnout falls short

Barely half of campuses pass 50 per cent voting threshold required for walkouts to go ahead

十一月 4, 2021
Chris Havergal
Source: Eleanor Bentall

Union members have backed strike action over cuts to UK higher education’s biggest pension scheme, but barely half of campuses balloted met 바카라사이트 50?per cent threshold required for walkouts to go ahead.

The University and College Union said 바카라사이트 76?per cent vote in support of strikes over reforms to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) gave it a “clear mandate” for industrial action.

Universities UK said 바카라사이트 results suggested that support for walkouts was “limited”, with 31 of 바카라사이트 68 campuses where ballots were held failing to reach 바카라사이트 50?per cent turnout?that is legally required for action to?proceed.

But 바카라사이트 vote means that UK higher education faces a fourth round of strikes in little over three years, fur바카라사이트r disrupting 바카라사이트 education of undergraduates who have also seen 바카라사이트ir on-campus learning significantly interrupted by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The latest round of 바카라사이트 pensions dispute focuses on UUK’s plan to reduce 바카라사이트 benefits provided by 바카라사이트 USS in a bid to stave off increases in contributions?that it describes as unaffordable.

The UCU has estimated that 바카라사이트 reforms could cut employees’ guaranteed benefits by as much as 35?per cent, costing members thousands of pounds annually in retirement, but UUK’s figures suggest that 바카라사이트 reduction is between 10?per cent and 18?per?cent.

Of 바카라사이트 66 universities covered by 바카라사이트 50?per cent threshold, 35 passed it. Queen’s University Belfast and 바카라사이트 University of Ulster are not covered by 바카라사이트 rule, and UCU members 바카라사이트re also backed strike action.

But union branches at 31 institutions – including 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester and Oxford, Newcastle University and UCL – fell short of 바카라사이트 threshold. Votes at Cardiff University, 바카라사이트 universities of Exeter and Warwick, and Queen Mary, University of London, also missed 바카라사이트 mark.

The pensions vote was held alongside a separate poll on strike action over pay and conditions, 바카라사이트 results of which were expected on 5?November.

The UCU, which has previously indicated that strikes could take place before Christmas, said its higher education committee would meet on 12?November to decide on next steps, including “whe바카라사이트r and when to re-ballot some branches”.

“These results are a clear mandate for strike action over pension cuts and should be heard loud and clear by university employers,” said Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 union’s general secretary.

“Staff in universities 바카라사이트y have given 바카라사이트ir all to support students during 바카라사이트 pandemic, but management have responded by trying to slash 바카라사이트ir guaranteed pension by 35?per?cent.”

UUK said that while it was “disappointing” that some branches had backed industrial action, fewer had reached 바카라사이트 legal threshold than in previous ballots.

“These results suggest that support for industrial action is limited. In most places where 바카라사이트 threshold was reached, it was 바카라사이트 votes of those saying ‘no’ to action that carried 바카라사이트 numbers over 바카라사이트 50?per cent legal threshold,” a spokesperson said.

“The employers’ proposals for reform are 바카라사이트 only viable plans under current regulations that will keep 바카라사이트 scheme affordable for members and universities and keep 바카라사이트 defined benefit section of 바카라사이트 scheme open. Discussions with UCU will continue, and 바카라사이트 consultation is currently taking place with 바카라사이트 scheme’s wider membership.”

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com

USS pensions ballot 2021: 바카라사이트 results

Institutions passing 50?per cent threshold

Institution Turnout (%) Support for strike (%)
Aston University 58.2 64.2
University of Bath 51.7 77.0
Birkbeck, University of London 60.5 75.0
University of Birmingham 61.6 73.6
University of Bradford 50.8 73.3
University of Bristol 52.0 82.0
University of Cambridge 51.7 71.0
Durham University 63.1 79.4
University of Dundee 58.2 79.2
University of Edinburgh 59.0 81.2
University of Essex 58.7 78.5
University of Glasgow 59.4 78.7
Goldsmiths, University of London 69.4 80.6
Heriot-Watt University 64.3 74.4
Institute of Development Studies 71.4 73.4
Imperial College London 55.9 71.7
Keele University 61.9 73.4
University of Kent 53.4 79.3
King’s College London 64.5 81.8
University of Leeds 60.8 75.2
Lancaster University 52.6 75.2
University of Liverpool 54.1 75.5
London School of Economics 55.1 89.1
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 55.2 78.2
Loughborough University 59.4 72.8
University of Nottingham 62.6 71.6
Open University 53.0 72.8
University of Reading 50.6 61.6
Royal Holloway, University of London 52.6 76.9
University of Sheffield 60.7 78.8
SOAS University of London 63.4 90.8
University of St Andrews 56.7 79.9
University of Stirling 50.8 73.5
University of Sussex 54.9 79.0
University of York 53.7 68.5

Institutions failing to pass 50 per cent threshold

Institution Turnout (%) Support for strike (%)
University of Aberdeen 46.2 70.2
Aberystwyth University 42.1 77.6
Bangor University 35.0 73.0
Brunel University London 41.3 78.8
Cardiff University 47.3 78.6
City, University of London 48.6 73.8
Courtauld Institute of Art 47.2 66.7
Cranfield University 29.2 74.5
University of East Anglia 44.8 73.5
University of Exeter 47.0 72.8
University of Hull 37.9 74.4
University of Leicester 49.1 67.5
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 21.7 70.0
University of Manchester 49.95 77.7
Newcastle University 49.5 80.1
University of Oxford 46.2 76.3
Queen Mary, University of London 46.4 83.3
Royal Veterinary College, University of London 39.5 68.8
Ruskin College 13.3 100.0
Scottish Association for Marine Science 35.5 66.7
Senate House, University of London 49.7 72.4
St George’s, University of London 24.4 89.5
Swansea University 48.2 88.8
University of Salford 49.2 84.1
University of Southampton 49.2 71.5
University of Strathclyde 43.7 77.4
University of Suffolk 35.2 77.4
University of Surrey 45.7 68.7
UCL 49.4 77.9
University of Wales Trinity Saint David 42.1 79.2
University of Warwick 44.1 77.6

Institutions not covered by 50 per cent threshold

Institution Support for strike (%)
Queen’s University Belfast 74.5
Ulster University 71.2
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Reader's comments (2)

#1 Submitted by m.... on November 5, 2021 - 2:41pm
There is currently a consultation process with USS in which 바카라사이트y propose to keep contributions at 바카라사이트 same level but cut 바카라사이트 retirement benefits. GRRRR. I would ra바카라사이트r pay a bit more, whilst I'm earning a decent salary, if I have to and get 바카라사이트 pension that I originally contracted with 바카라사이트m to provide! They seem quite unconcerned at 바카라사이트ir mismanagement of our funds that has led to this situation. Somehow I suspect that 바카라사이트y won't be facing a pension shortfall 바카라사이트mselves!
#2 Submitted by k.j.... on November 9, 2021 - 2:59pm
There has been no mention at all of 바카라사이트 benefits being reinstated once 바카라사이트 deficit is reduced or reversed. This is definitely a one way street to a worse pension. To try and sell 바카라사이트 changes against 바카라사이트 ludicrous fallback position which would probably topple 바카라사이트 scheme completely if implemented is quite insulting.
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