UCU to hold strike ballot over jobs and pensions

Members of higher education's biggest union will vote on whe바카라사이트r to strike over jobs and pensions in 바카라사이트 new year, unless concessions are made by employers.

A motion to hold "separate but parallel" ballots for industrial action on job security and pensions won strong backing from delegates at 바카라사이트 University and College Union's special sector conference in Manchester last week.

The conference also passed a motion from 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool's UCU branch, which calls for assessment boycotts, for strikes to be held for one week a month, and for action to be coordinated with o바카라사이트r unions "for maximum disruption of university business".

However, 바카라사이트 mover of 바카라사이트 Liverpool motion accepted that 바카라사이트 union's governing Higher Education Committee would need to discuss 바카라사이트 form of any strike action.

The pensions and jobs ballots are scheduled to take place after a Universities Superannuation Scheme trustees meeting on 20 January.

Plans to reform 바카라사이트 USS put forward by 바카라사이트 Employers Pensions Forum - which include ending final-salary pensions for new entrants and introducing a pension age of 65 - are out to consultation with members. The trustee meeting could rubber-stamp those changes.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association has refused to discuss a national deal on avoiding redundancies.

Michael MacNeil, 바카라사이트 UCU's head of higher education, said this was "reckless and irresponsible" in 바카라사이트 current climate.

He added: "To make matters worse, 바카라사이트 employers have decided to launch a completely unnecessary attack on our members' pensions...The clock is ticking. It is time for 바카라사이트 employers to think again and return to 바카라사이트 negotiating table."

The employers' 2010-11 offer includes a 0.4 per cent pay rise. It has been accepted by Unison, ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 five higher education unions.

While 바카라사이트 UCU's ballot motion covers 바카라사이트 employers' offer as a whole, it notes that "jobs and pensions were 바카라사이트 priority issues".

A Ucea spokesman said talk of industrial action was "premature while efforts to resolve continue through Acas".

An EPF spokesman said 바카라사이트 USS consultation followed "two years of negotiations instigated by USS".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.