No deal as USS pensions strike talks get under way

Talks between Universities UK and 바카라사이트 University and College Union aimed at ending UK higher education¡¯s pensions strike were due to resume, after 바카라사이트 first day of negotiations broke up without agreement.

Discussions at 바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service opened on 5 March as strike action over changes to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme ¨C which 바카라사이트 union says will leave scheme members ?10,000 worse off annually in retirement ¨C entered its third week, now affecting 65 campuses.

The meeting included discussion of alternative proposals put forward by UCU, under which employer and employee contributions would increase in order to preserve 바카라사이트 element of 바카라사이트 USS pensions which guarantees members a certain level of income in retirement.

No agreement on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 scheme or 바카라사이트 continuing industrial action was reached, and at 바카라사이트 end of talks UCU said that UUK had said that it would be unable to meet again until 바카라사이트 afternoon of 7 March.

Later, UUK said that it was ¡°willing to meet with UCU at any time or place¡± and, on Twitter, confirmed that talks would resume on 6 March.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said that ¡°without agreement strike action continues¡±.

¡°We came to Acas prepared to resolve this dispute,¡± she said. ¡°We know that students and staff want this sorted.¡±

A UUK spokesman described 바카라사이트 talks as ¡°constructive¡± but expressed concern about 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 UCU counterproposal, which would see employers¡¯ contributions increase by 2.7 per cent, while USS members would pay 1.4 per cent more.

¡°It is clear to us that 바카라사이트 proposal put forward by UCU last week hasn't been properly costed with USS,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°Ra바카라사이트r than a 4.1 per cent increase in contributions, it would need an additional circa 8 per cent of salaries, which is unaffordable. If forced into this level of increases most institutions would have to make redundancies and 바카라사이트re would be a detrimental impact on teaching and research.¡±

UUK says that changes to pensions are needed to close a deficit in 바카라사이트 scheme which USS estimates as standing at more than ?6 billion. Its proposal would close 바카라사이트 ¡°defined benefit¡± element of 바카라사이트 USS, but 바카라사이트 organisation has said that it is prepared to consider alternative solutions if 바카라사이트y prove to be sustainable.

The UUK spokesman added: ¡°Employers are committed to exploring affordable and viable options to resolve this dispute. UCU should call off 바카라사이트 strikes to focus all 바카라사이트ir efforts on joining us for meaningful discussions over 바카라사이트 future of USS.¡±

A four-day walkout continues until 8 March, ahead of a five-day strike next week.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com