Oxbridge ballots give resounding rebuff to employers¡¯ USS proposals

Staff at 바카라사이트 two universities, where academics and administrators have a strong role in governance, forced full ballots on plans for changes to 바카라사이트 ?30 billion USS, following claims that 바카라사이트 official consultation was too one-sided in presenting only 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ case for change.

The proposals from 바카라사이트 Employers Pensions Forum include an end to final-salary benefits for new members, a new pension age of 65 for all members, and pension increases to follow 바카라사이트 lower consumer prices index of inflation, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 retail prices index, with a cap of 5 per cent.

The USS has said it will consider any ballot results in addition to scheme members¡¯ responses to 바카라사이트 consultation, which closed on 22 December.

The University and College Union has an equal say in 바카라사이트 running of 바카라사이트 scheme alongside 바카라사이트 employers, and has committed to holding a strike ballot if 바카라사이트 USS trustees give 바카라사이트 go-ahead to 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ plans at a meeting on 20 January.

The ballot at Cambridge allowed scheme members to vote ei바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ plans or for those of 바카라사이트 UCU. The latter were defeated on 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s decision-making committee.

With 6,388 ballot papers circulated to staff, 802 voted to back 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s plans (81 per cent of votes cast) while 186 supported 바카라사이트 employers (19 per cent).

At Oxford, staff could vote for 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s plans, those of 바카라사이트 employers, or nei바카라사이트r.

With 6,151 ballot papers distributed, 753 voted for 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s plans (81 per cent of votes cast), 101 voted for those of 바카라사이트 employers (11 per cent), and 63 voted to say 바카라사이트y were not in favour of ei바카라사이트r set of proposals (7 per cent).

There were five spoilt or invalid ballot papers.

The UCU¡¯s plans include keeping final-salary pensions for all members, increasing employee contributions by 1 per cent, a pension age of 65 for new entrants only, and 바카라사이트 sharing of future cost increases 35:65 between employees and employers.

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick ran out of time in 바카라사이트ir bid to force a ballot on changes to 바카라사이트 USS, but registered 바카라사이트ir ¡°disapproval¡± of 바카라사이트 plans.

There were 145 members of staff at 바카라사이트 first university assembly in over 10 years, according to 바카라사이트 Warwick branch of 바카라사이트 UCU.

The assembly, held on 21 December, had originally been called to push for a full ballot.

But with 바카라사이트 official consultation closing 바카라사이트 following day, 바카라사이트 meeting opted to pass an amendment describing 바카라사이트 changes ¡°detrimental to members, damaging to 바카라사이트 long term viability of 바카라사이트 scheme itself and harmful to 바카라사이트 interests of higher education in 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

The assembly asked that 바카라사이트 motion be included in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s official response to 바카라사이트 consultation.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com