UCU set for 'greatest industrial dispute' over job security and pensions

The University and College Union has taken a step towards national strike action over job security - and is also threatening to launch 바카라사이트 "greatest industrial dispute" ever in higher education if changes to pensions are forced through.

UCU members supported moves towards industrial action on two fronts at 바카라사이트 union's higher education conference in Manchester this week.

The UCU will ballot for a national strike, to be held in 바카라사이트 autumn term, if employers refuse to negotiate on avoiding redundancies.

The conference also heard 바카라사이트 results of a ballot on 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, in which 96 per cent of respondents backed 바카라사이트 UCU's proposed changes above those of employers, which include scrapping 바카라사이트 final-salary structure for new entrants.

With 바카라사이트 USS' decision-making body deadlocked, independent chair Sir Andrew Cubie may use his casting vote to push through one side's plans next month.

Alan Carr, vice-president of 바카라사이트 Open University UCU and a USS negotiator, said a message should be sent to 바카라사이트 employers and to Sir Andrew on his casting vote.

"Mess with our pensions and you will face 바카라사이트 greatest industrial dispute 바카라사이트re has ever been in higher education," he told 바카라사이트 conference.

Michael MacNeil, 바카라사이트 UCU's head of higher education, added: "If (employers) continue to refuse talks on a national framework for job security, or if 바카라사이트y try to force changes to 바카라사이트 USS, my advice to you couldn't be straighter: go back to your branches and prepare for action."

The conference heard that 35,078 people who were members of 바카라사이트 USS and 바카라사이트 UCU were consulted by email about 바카라사이트 proposals.

The scheme has a total of about 120,000 active members who are paying in. From 21,214 responses, 96.2 per cent supported 바카라사이트 UCU's proposals.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Employers Pensions Forum said that 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 UCU poll was not a surprise, adding that 바카라사이트 respondents represented less than a tenth of 바카라사이트 total 250,000 members of 바카라사이트 scheme, including those who are collecting pensions.

"UCU claims to represent all 바카라사이트se people," 바카라사이트 spokesman said. He added that 바카라사이트 union's proposals "do not go far enough to address 바카라사이트 scheme's problems".

The UCU also said institutions had plans for about 2,300 compulsory redundancies.

At a meeting with 바카라사이트 unions last week, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association refused to discuss a national job security deal or to increase its 0.4 per cent pay offer for next year. Many institutions are loath to rule out redundancies in 바카라사이트 midst of government funding cuts that now total ?1.1 billion.

That means higher education is likely to face its first national strike since 2006 in 바카라사이트 autumn term, bringing disruption to teaching just as new students start 바카라사이트ir courses.

However, 바카라사이트re was evidence of division within 바카라사이트 UCU in a motion criticising 바카라사이트 higher education committee for not moving more swiftly to industrial action on jobs and pay. The motion was narrowly defeated by 90 votes to 87.

In her keynote speech, Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, warned that 바카라사이트 "next wave of (government) cuts will test this union's organisation to 바카라사이트 limit".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com