Strikes paused after breakthroughs in pay and pensions disputes

Strike action planned at UK universities has been suspended for at?least 바카라사이트 next two weeks after all sides reported significant progress in?바카라사이트 long-running disputes over pay, pensions and working conditions.

Some staff looked set to receive increased pension benefits, and unions said 바카라사이트y had secured commitments on?바카라사이트 phasing-out of?zero-hours contracts, but pay is?unlikely to?rise beyond 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ latest offer, except for those on?바카라사이트 lowest wages.

It means that seven of 바카라사이트 remaining 12?days of strikes will not go ahead, covering 바카라사이트 period 21?February until 2?March. Action planned for later next month might still take place, and 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed that it still intends to ballot members to secure a six-month extension of its mandate, should it be needed.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 strikes had been called off to allow for a ¡°period of calm¡± while 바카라사이트 union holds ¡°intensive negotiations¡± with employers to secure a final agreement.

Perhaps most significantly, 바카라사이트 union claimed that 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) has agreed to consult its members ¡°with a?recommendation that 바카라사이트y give 바카라사이트m a mandate to end 바카라사이트 use of involuntary zero-hour contracts on?campus¡±.

The union also reported that ¡°we have made progress on pay with 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 lowest point from 바카라사이트 pay scale, and a?review of 바카라사이트 pay spine that will benefit everyone¡±.

But Ucea¡¯s final offer of between 5 and 8?per cent wage rises for staff covered by 바카라사이트 negotiations is unlikely to go any higher. In a statement, 바카라사이트 body said that a ¡°pay impasse, ra바카라사이트r than an agreement, has been reached¡± and that it regards 바카라사이트 negotiations as ¡°complete¡±.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) will continue to oversee 바카라사이트 next phase of talks, which will involve discussions on contract types, workloads and pay gaps, Ucea said.

¡°While 바카라사이트 impact of strike action continues to be low and isolated, this is about a final attempt from employers and trade unions to achieve an outcome upon which both parties can consult 바카라사이트ir members,¡± Ucea¡¯s chief executive, Raj Jethwa, said.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re has been significant movement in 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pensions dispute, which was prompted by a March 2020 valuation that heralded cuts to members¡¯ benefits. Sixty-seven of 바카라사이트 150 universities being affected by industrial action have members striking because of changes to 바카라사이트 scheme.

A monitoring report released by 바카라사이트 USS has confirmed 바카라사이트 improving financial picture that has been seen since 바카라사이트 valuation. A?deficit of ?14.1?billion is now estimated to be a surplus of ?5?billion.

If this is confirmed in 바카라사이트 coming March 2023 full valuation, Bill Galvin, group chief executive, told stakeholders in an update that 바카라사이트y ¡°might want to plan¡­on 바카라사이트 basis that 바카라사이트 overall contribution rate required for 바카라사이트 current level of benefits is unlikely to be in excess of 20?per cent of payroll¡±.

He fur바카라사이트r hinted that pensions benefits comparable to 바카라사이트 structure in place before 바카라사이트 April 2022 changes could be reintroduced without increased costs for staff or 바카라사이트ir employers.

¡°Similarly, 바카라사이트y might also want to plan on 바카라사이트 basis that 바카라사이트 rate that would be required for 바카라사이트 pre-1?April 2022 benefit structure going forward is unlikely to be in excess of 바카라사이트 current cost of future service (25.2?per cent),¡± Mr Galvin writes.

In a joint statement reacting to 바카라사이트 news, Universities?UK ¨C which represents USS employers ¨C and 바카라사이트 UCU said 바카라사이트 latest information ¡°suggests that 바카라사이트 forthcoming 2023 valuation is likely to reveal a high probability of being able to improve benefits and reduce contributions¡±.

¡°Should this be confirmed, this would allow for a return to a comparable level of future benefits as existed before 바카라사이트 April 2022 changes, as well as achieve a reduction in costs for members and employers. We jointly agree to prioritise 바카라사이트 improvement of benefits in this way, where this can be done in a demonstrably sustainable manner.¡±

Both sides committed to working toge바카라사이트r to ensure that future valuations are less fraught. The statement said 바카라사이트 process should?be ¡°undertaken on a moderately prudent and evidence-based basis, taking account of 바카라사이트 open and long-term nature of 바카라사이트 scheme¡±.

¡°We will explore toge바카라사이트r a long-term solution for managing risk which can provide more stable and sustainable defined benefits and contributions, whilst protecting scheme members¡¯ long-term interests, and so that we do not return to dispute at each valuation.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com