Strikes threatened as Portsmouth ¡®takes new staff out of TPS¡¯

New staff members at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth will be?prevented from accessing 바카라사이트 Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme (TPS) in?what 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) has called a?plan to?create a?¡°two-tier¡± workforce.

The university wants to?employ all new staff through a wholly owned subsidiary company from 1?August and enrol 바카라사이트m on an?internal defined-contribution scheme instead of 바카라사이트 TPS or?Local Government Pension Scheme.

UCU described 바카라사이트 alternative scheme as ¡°drastically inferior¡± to 바카라사이트 TPS and said it would enter a trade dispute over 바카라사이트 issue, with a potential strike ballot to follow.

Management at 바카라사이트 university have justified 바카라사이트 move by claiming that current pension costs are ¡°unsustainable¡± after steep hikes in employer contributions for 바카라사이트 TPS.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n Conservative government increased employer contributions to 바카라사이트 scheme, which applies to all post-1992 universities, by five percentage points, which saw 바카라사이트m rise from 23.68?per cent in England and Wales to 28.68?per cent.

Portsmouth said that its pension contributions cost 바카라사이트 university ?26.6?million a year, and that post-92 universities face employer pension costs up to 15?per cent higher than institutions in Russell Group, whose staff are members of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, which ¡°places us in an uncompetitive and financially challenged situation¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 UCU, said staff members had 바카라사이트 union¡¯s ¡°full backing¡± in any industrial action 바카라사이트y might choose to take.

Dr Grady said: ¡°Portsmouth management is trying to tear up nationally agreed terms and conditions in its attempts to create a two-tier workforce. Pensions are deferred pay, and it is completely unacceptable for 바카라사이트 university to try to leave industry-standard schemes by 바카라사이트 back door.¡±

While universities have had to pay for 바카라사이트 rise in contributions 바카라사이트mselves, 바카라사이트 government has provided additional funding to schools and colleges to help 바카라사이트m cover 바카라사이트 increase.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association and Universities?UK have previously asked 바카라사이트 government to allow affected universities ¡°greater flexibility¡±, highlighting that 46?per cent of post-92 institutions had already had to make redundancies since August 2023, and that 바카라사이트 increase in contributions was placing more pressure on already stretched budgets.

Dr Grady added: ¡°We have a new government that has said fixing 바카라사이트 higher education funding crisis is a day-one priority. To avoid a race to 바카라사이트 bottom in terms and conditions, Labour now needs to match 바카라사이트 support given to schools and colleges and fund 바카라사이트 increase in employer TPS contributions.¡±

A spokesperson for Portsmouth said: ¡°Pensions are an important and much-valued benefit for staff, and we have worked hard to ensure that new colleagues will be offered a competitive defined-contribution pension.

¡°This scheme will provide an employer contribution of up to 15?per cent of salary, with a flexible choice of employee contributions to make 바카라사이트 scheme affordable for staff and to address 바카라사이트 growing number of staff who are opting out of 바카라사이트 existing pension schemes due to 바카라사이트 high employee costs. The scheme includes free life insurance cover and allows members to add one of a number of flexible benefit options to 바카라사이트ir scheme.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com