Unions call for national ballot on USS changes

Employers and trade unions are again at odds over higher education's biggest pension scheme, this time disagreeing about a consultation with members on major changes.

The consultation, a statutory requirement scheduled to run from late September to early December, is on plans to phase out final-salary pensions and raise 바카라사이트 pension age in 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The scheme has 130,000 active members, mostly academics and senior administrators in pre-1992 universities.

Individual universities will run 바카라사이트 consultation under 바카라사이트 system favoured by 바카라사이트 Employers Pensions Forum (EPF). Only organisations with more than 50 USS members are formally required to take part.

The University and College Union argued that a national ballot of all USS members would be 바카라사이트 fairest option. It said university-run consultations would be of variable quality.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said: "We would hope 바카라사이트 employers share our desire to ensure that change of this magnitude is properly mandated, not simply pushed through."

Mike Robinson, national education officer for Unite, said 바카라사이트 consultation should be undertaken centrally, possibly by 바카라사이트 USS.

Running 바카라사이트 exercise at individual universities would make it harder for trade unions to put 바카라사이트ir case to members, he said.

Tony Bruce, an adviser to 바카라사이트 EPF, said: "It is expected that, because of 바카라사이트 size and volume of this exercise, 바카라사이트 process would be undertaken by 바카라사이트 employers in conjunction with USS, and would include a range of communications."

Earlier this month, 바카라사이트 employers won 바카라사이트ir battle with 바카라사이트 UCU over reform of 바카라사이트 scheme. Sir Andrew Cubie, 바카라사이트 independent chairman of 바카라사이트 USS Joint Negotiating Committee, used his casting vote to support employers' proposals after attempts to negotiate changes broke down.

The employers' proposals include career-average pensions instead of final-salary pensions for new entrants and a new normal pension age of 65 for 바카라사이트 future service of current members, with only those aged over 55 exempt from 바카라사이트 change.

If 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트 go-ahead, 바카라사이트 changes are set to be implemented from 1 April 2011.

The proposals were due to go before 바카라사이트 USS trustees on 22 July.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com