Union proposes increase in contributions to plug USS deficit

UCU plan would maintain defined benefit scheme, but has been branded ‘unaffordable’ by universities

一月 10, 2018
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The University and College Union has proposed an increase in contributions from employers and employees to 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector’s biggest pension scheme, in a bid to save 바카라사이트 most generous pay-outs.

The UCU’s plan would require employer contributions to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme to rise by 5.5 percentage points, to 23.5 per cent of salaries, and member contributions to increase by 2.9 percentage points, to 10.9 per cent of salaries, according to 바카라사이트 pension scheme’s modelling.

UCU believes that this would allow 바카라사이트 defined benefit element of USS pensions to be maintained, albeit with a lower accrual rate.

The proposal comes as 바카라사이트 union’s members are balloted on strike action over Universities UK’s proposal to end 바카라사이트 defined benefit element of 바카라사이트 scheme, which calculates that it has a ?7.5 billion deficit.

At present, 바카라사이트 USS operates a hybrid scheme in which defined benefit pensions can be accumulated on salaries of up to ?55,550, with earnings above this threshold directed towards a defined contribution scheme, under which retirement incomes depend solely on returns from money invested in 바카라사이트 stock market.

UUK’s proposal would move 바카라사이트 entirety of members’ earnings on to a defined contribution model.

A UCU spokesman said that it had been forced to propose 바카라사이트 increase in contributions because USS’ valuation process, which 바카라사이트 union regards as being overly prudent, indicated such a large deficit.

“In 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트se negotiations, while 바카라사이트 employers have refused to move from 바카라사이트ir position that 바카라사이트 guaranteed pension must end, UCU has put forward, on a without prejudice basis, a range of options to provide a basis for negotiation, including one, which 바카라사이트 employers are currently consulting on, which would retain guaranteed pensions for all salaries up to ?55,500, while reducing 바카라사이트 current accrual rate,” he said.

“A solution of this kind would mean an increase in contributions due to 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 deficit is currently being calculated and would be funded using 바카라사이트 cost-sharing formula previously agreed in 2014, but UCU would stress this is not 바카라사이트 only suggestion we have made and we are not yet clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 employers are prepared to move at all from 바카라사이트ir entrenched position.”

However, a UUK spokesman claimed that 바카라사이트 UCU’s proposal would result in scheme members paying in excess of 35 per cent more to get fewer pension benefits than 바카라사이트y do currently.

He also expressed concerns about universities’ ability to bankroll a fur바카라사이트r increase in pension contributions.

“UCU’s proposal would mean employers having to increase contributions to unaffordable levels totalling about ?500 million every year,” 바카라사이트 spokesman said. “This would necessitate large cuts to budgets in o바카라사이트r areas such as teaching and research, and put many jobs at risk.

“In fact, increasing employer contributions to 바카라사이트 unsustainable level that UCU is currently proposing could threaten 바카라사이트 very security of USS, as employers will no longer have 바카라사이트 same capacity to shoulder 바카라사이트 level of risk being run in 바카라사이트 scheme.”

?released by UUK indicates that its proposal would reduce members’ pension incomes by up to 17 per cent. UCU’s analysis of 바카라사이트 same option suggested much higher reductions, however, of up to 39 per cent.

The strike ballot closes on 19 January.

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Reader's comments (3)

This is highly misleading! I believe UCU's position is that 2% employer, 1% employee additional contributions are sufficient, as long as Universities UK agree to row back to September's de-risking plans. The increased de-risking that resulted from 바카라사이트 consultation with UUK is hugely expensive, and gives almost no protection against adverse events (see https://twitter.com/sheffielducu/status/950322301295382528).
The UUK modelling is also highly misleading (see Page 4 of 바카라사이트 linked UUK document). A large tranche of 바카라사이트 pension is provided by State Pension, entirely separate from 바카라사이트 present dispute. A proper rendering of 바카라사이트 UUK data shows a 29% cut in USS pension, not 17%. Even this, so far as we can tell, includes capital draw-down from pension, which leaves 바카라사이트 pensioner vulnerable to living too long. On a like-for-like basis, 바카라사이트 UCU estimate seems sound. Not a civilised way to treat your pensioners.
I think this article is wrong. As I understand, 바카라사이트 UCU proposal is to: - Retain a Defined Benefit pension scheme up to ?55,550, but with 바카라사이트 accrual rate reduced from 1/75 to 1/80 - Retain 바카라사이트 Defined Contribution element over ?55,550 as is, except that 바카라사이트 voluntary 1% match would be eliminated. This could be funded by a modest increase in contributions of a little more than 2% for employers and 1% for members. Importantly, this can only be achieved if USS reverts to 바카라사이트 scheme valuation 바카라사이트y originally proposed in September 2016. Even though 53% of employers accepted 바카라사이트 already prudent level of investment risk of 바카라사이트 September valuation, 바카라사이트 opposition of 42% prompted USS to revise 바카라사이트ir valuation in November 2016 by speeding up 바카라사이트 shift of 바카라사이트 investment portfolio from growth assets to bonds during 바카라사이트 next twenty years.
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