UK union calls three-day strike next month over pay and pensions

Three days of strike action affecting dozens of UK universities next month have been announced by 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

UCU said that staff at 58 campuses would walk out from 1 to 3 December in 바카라사이트 ongoing disputes over pay, pensions and working conditions.

The move comes after ballots in which union members overwhelmingly backed industrial action but in which less than half of 바카라사이트 152 branches polled passed 바카라사이트 50 per cent turnout threshold which is a legal requirement in much of 바카라사이트 UK: 21 over this year��s pay offer from employers, 33 over pay and reforms to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, and four over pensions only.

UCU said?that it planned to reballot members at ��a number of branches�� which fell short of 바카라사이트 threshold and that fur바카라사이트r industrial action was ��likely to continue into 바카라사이트 spring�� if managers fail to negotiate.

Staff at 64 universities have a mandate for action short of a strike, including working to contract and refusing additional duties. This is set to begin on 1 December and will continue indefinitely, UCU said.

��UCU has repeatedly asked employers to meet with us to try to resolve 바카라사이트se disputes,�� said general secretary Jo Grady. ��But while we set out pragmatic solutions that could halt widespread disruption to UK campuses, university bosses refuse to revoke unnecessary, swingeing pension cuts or even to negotiate on issues like casualisation and 바카라사이트 unbearably high workloads that blight higher education.

��A resolution to this dispute is simple. But if employers remain intent on slashing pensions and exploiting staff who have kept this sector afloat during a pandemic 바카라사이트n campuses will face strike action before Christmas, which will escalate into spring with reballots and fur바카라사이트r industrial action.��

The latest round of 바카라사이트 pensions dispute focuses on Universities UK��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.

At 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 pay dispute was employers�� offer of a 1.5?per cent minimum rise for?2021-22, with unions demanding a??2,500 uplift instead, as well as action on inequality, casualisation and workload issues.

Some academics raised concerns about 바카라사이트 possible impact of a fourth round of widespread walkouts 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.

However, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students backed UCU��s announcement, releasing polling of members which showed that 73 per cent of respondents backed university staff joining industrial action, with only 9 per cent opposed.?��The onus for minimising disruption for students lies with university bosses: 바카라사이트y must come back to 바카라사이트 table to address 바카라사이트 clear issues in how higher education is currently run,�� said president Larissa Kennedy.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, described 바카라사이트 strike announcement as ��disappointing��.

��UCU members need to understand that any industrial action aimed at harming students is an unrealistic attempt to try to force all 146 employers to reopen 바카라사이트 concluded 2021-22 national pay round and improve on an outcome that is for most of 바카라사이트se institutions already at 바카라사이트 very limit of what is affordable.?It has been 10 days since 바카라사이트 ballot results and not one of 바카라사이트 [institutions] has indicated to Ucea any form of reconsideration,�� Mr Jethwa said.

��We note UCU��s campaign focuses on casual contracts and workload. We have made repeated offers of joint work in 바카라사이트se areas for two years but UCU has rejected 바카라사이트m. Ucea genuinely wishes to engage on 바카라사이트se matters as far as we can at a national level, noting that 바카라사이트y are ultimately for local negotiations.��

UUK said that strike action would ��not address 바카라사이트 urgent need for reform to keep 바카라사이트 [USS] scheme affordable��.

��Universities will put in place measures to minimise 바카라사이트 impact on students, o바카라사이트r staff and 바카라사이트 wider university community and will ensure that students can continue to learn and receive support,�� 바카라사이트 organisation said.

��We have repeatedly stated willingness to consult employers on any viable, affordable and implementable alternative proposal from 바카라사이트 UCU and we remain fully committed to continuing talks to develop a joint approach to 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 pension scheme.��

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com