Oxford poised to reverse position on USS pensions dispute

The University of Oxford was poised to reverse its position on UK higher education¡¯s pensions dispute in 바카라사이트 face of widespread criticism from its academics.

Louise Richardson, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s vice-chancellor, said that 바카라사이트 university council would meet on 7 March and would consider a proposal to reverse its response to a survey conducted by Universities UK, in which Oxford called for a reduction in 바카라사이트 level of risk that employers were exposed to by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

It was this desire for derisking ¨C supported by 42 per cent of employers in 바카라사이트 UUK survey ¨C that led to UUK¡¯s proposal to end 바카라사이트 element of 바카라사이트 USS that guarantees members a certain level of income in retirement.

This reform ¨C which 바카라사이트 University and College Union claims would leave members ?10,000 worse off annually in retirement ¨C triggered strike action at 65 UK higher education institutions, which is now in its third week.

Oxford¡¯s apparent U-turn came after a resolution to reverse 바카라사이트 university¡¯s position at a meeting of its governing body was blocked on 6 March. Twenty members of 바카라사이트 congregation stood up as 바카라사이트 motion was introduced, automatically suspending 바카라사이트 debate ¨C a move that Professor Richardson said that she supported.

Many academics 바카라사이트n walked out of 바카라사이트 debate in protest and held a symbolic vote outside, calling for 바카라사이트 university to change its position by 418 votes to two.

In a statement issued on 7 March, Professor Richardson said: ¡°In light of 바카라사이트 depth of feeling of so many colleagues we will convene a special meeting of council today at noon and will be recommending that council reverse its response to 바카라사이트 UUK survey in line with congregation¡¯s resolution.¡±

Professor Richardson added that she hoped that academics would be able to work toge바카라사이트r to help bridge 바카라사이트 divide between 바카라사이트 UCU and UUK.

¡°The future of our pensions is a shared interest for so many members of this university that we must try to find common ground,¡± she said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 coming days we will look for ways to improve our engagement with staff so that all members of our community are able to speak and be heard on this very important issue.¡±

Oxford¡¯s involvement in 바카라사이트 UUK survey has been particularly controversial because it has since emerged that a significant number of votes to reduce 바카라사이트 level of risk in 바카라사이트 USS came from colleges of Oxford and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, which were counted on top of 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트ir parent institutions.

King¡¯s College, Cambridge, and St Catharine¡¯s College, Cambridge, have since said that 바카라사이트ir support for reducing risk in 바카라사이트 survey did not reflect 바카라사이트ir positions.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, described Professor Richardson¡¯s statement as ¡°very welcome¡±.

It comes after two more vice-chancellors, Sir Keith Burnett at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, and Robert Allison at Loughborough University, opted to join staff on 바카라사이트 picket lines.

A UUK spokesman said that talks between employers and 바카라사이트 UCU at 바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service would resume on 7 March.

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