Marking boycott over USS reform suspended

A joint statement by 바카라사이트 University and College Union and Universities UK said 바카라사이트 assessment boycott that has been under way at institutions for a fortnight would be put on hold from 20 November until after 바카라사이트 next meeting of 바카라사이트 Joint Negotiating Committee, which is scheduled for 15 January.

The agreement was reached after employers agreed not to dock 바카라사이트 pay of lecturers who had been taking part in 바카라사이트 industrial action over 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme. Academics will be expected, in return, to catch up on marking within a reasonable period of time.

¡°UCU and UUK have agreed to a series of negotiating meetings between now and 바카라사이트 scheduled January JNC. It is hoped that this period can now be used to close 바카라사이트 differences between 바카라사이트 negotiating positions, with a view to reaching agreement on reforms to 바카라사이트 USS scheme,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

¡°Both parties are committed to seeking a joint proposal for reform that offers an affordable, sustainable and attractive pension scheme, for both current and future members.¡±

The boycott was triggered by 바카라사이트 proposal to move higher education staff who pay into 바카라사이트 USS¡¯s final salary scheme on to 바카라사이트 career revalued benefits scheme introduced for new entrants in 2011. This triggered warnings from 바카라사이트 union that staff pensions could be reduced by as much as a third.

At least 10 universities had announced plans to dock 100 per cent of 바카라사이트 salary of academics taking part in 바카라사이트 boycott, with o바카라사이트rs choosing to dock around 25 per cent.

A thaw in relations came after 바카라사이트 UCU submitted counterproposals that accepted 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 final salary scheme, but called for more generous terms.

But some academics have accused union leaders of ¡°betrayal¡±, calling for 바카라사이트 final salary scheme to be protected and for a conference of branch delegates to be convened to decide on 바카라사이트 way forward in 바카라사이트 dispute.

The joint statement from 바카라사이트 UCU and UUK added: ¡°Both parties are pleased that 바카라사이트 agreement to suspend industrial action at this early stage will mean that students will not have been adversely affected and members of staff will not have had pay deducted.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com