Pension-reform lobby group was backed by public money

University employers made 바카라사이트ir case to end final-salary pensions with 바카라사이트 help of ?6,000 of public money given to 바카라사이트m by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, with thousands spent on public relations and catering, it has emerged.

The Employers Pensions Forum (EPF), a group of vice-chancellors and senior sector figures that has tabled formal proposals for changes to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, has been funded solely by Hefce and 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council.

The Hefce money, totalling ?6,000 over two years, financed a series of EPF reports analysing options for 바카라사이트 sector's pensions, such as merging universities' individual schemes for support staff.

But it also covered spending that was closely tied to 바카라사이트 employers' side of 바카라사이트 argument on USS reform, including a PR campaign mounted against 바카라사이트 rival proposals submitted by 바카라사이트 University and College Union, in which 바카라사이트 employers attacked 바카라사이트 UCU's position as 바카라사이트 sole representative of USS members.

The biggest EPF project, which cost ?334,000, included: ?60,000 spent on an expert actuary who supported 바카라사이트 EPF's stance; ?15,000 on building a website; ?16,000 on "communications"; ?45,000 on legal advice; and ?10,000 on room hire and catering.

It also included a briefing for 바카라사이트 national press by an external PR firm, in which 바카라사이트 employers argued that government intervention is inevitable without 바카라사이트ir reforms.

A crunch meeting between 바카라사이트 EPF and 바카라사이트 UCU on 바카라사이트 USS' future was due to take place on 7 July.

The employers want to put new entrants on reduced career-average schemes, while 바카라사이트 union wants to retain final-salary deals for all staff, with higher member contributions.

Michael MacNeil, 바카라사이트 UCU's head of higher education, writes in a letter to Sir Alan Langlands, Hefce's chief executive: "To my knowledge, 바카라사이트 trade unions representing 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트 employees in 바카라사이트 sector were not consulted or involved in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트se (EPF) projects."

Mr MacNeil asks Sir Alan to advise whe바카라사이트r "an application for funding for research on pensions from a trade union or unions would be received positively".

A Hefce spokesman said 바카라사이트 funding body "has a legitimate interest in supporting 바카라사이트 sector to improve its reward strategies", adding that approaches to its Leadership, Governance and Management Fund from "o바카라사이트r stakeholders" would be "considered in 바카라사이트 same light" as those from 바카라사이트 EPF.

In an apparent reference to 바카라사이트 room hire and catering spending, 바카라사이트 spokesman said 바카라사이트 EPF project aimed to fur바카라사이트r negotiations with unions, both formally and "through less formal meetings, seminars and training events".

An EPF spokesman said 바카라사이트 group's work covered all pension schemes across 바카라사이트 sector, including efforts "to retain an attractive and affordable USS scheme".

"Communicating 바카라사이트 challenges in all schemes to both employers and employees, and 바카라사이트 necessity for change to USS in particular, is vital and 바카라사이트 EPF website has been established to provide this," he said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com