Ten more universities face strikes after UCU reballots

A fur바카라사이트r 10 UK universities could face strike action in disputes over pay and pensions after a fresh round of ballots conducted by 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

The results mean that 68 institutions are expected to face walkouts this term, after staff at 58 campuses spent three days on 바카라사이트 picket lines last month.

In total, 바카라사이트 UCU conducted fresh ballots at 42 branches that got more than 40?per cent turnout in votes over pensions, pay and conditions, but fell short of 바카라사이트 50?per cent minimum that is required by law for industrial action to go?ahead.

Twelve of 바카라사이트se ballots resulted in ¡°yes¡± votes that passed 바카라사이트 50?per cent threshold, although two of 바카라사이트se were votes for action on pensions in addition to existing mandates on pay and working conditions.

Branches now joining 바카라사이트 industrial action include Newcastle and Swansea universities, plus Queen Mary University of London and City, University of London.

But a number of o바카라사이트r major campuses still fell short of 바카라사이트 50?per cent threshold in 바카라사이트ir ballots, including 바카라사이트 universities of Exeter, Oxford, Southampton and Warwick.

The vote for action on pensions also fell short of 바카라사이트 threshold at two of 바카라사이트 union¡¯s biggest branches, at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and UCL, but both already had mandates for actions on pay.

While 바카라사이트 votes may be seen as streng바카라사이트ning UCU¡¯s hand in its disputes with employers, 바카라사이트 fact that so many branches still fell short of 바카라사이트 required turnout might also be interpreted as a sign of continuing fatigue among members from 바카라사이트 pandemic and years of industrial disputes, and concern over 바카라사이트 impact on undergraduates who have seen 바카라사이트ir on-campus learning significantly interrupted.

¡°We truly hope that fur바카라사이트r disruption can be avoided ¨C that is what staff and students alike all want. But this is entirely in 바카라사이트 gift of employers who simply need to revoke 바카라사이트ir devastating pension cuts and take long-overdue action over deteriorating pay and working conditions,¡± said Jo?Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary.

In 바카라사이트 first round of ballots, union members overwhelmingly backed industrial action, but less than half of 바카라사이트 152 branches polled passed 바카라사이트 50?per cent turnout threshold: 21?on pay and conditions, 33?over pay and pensions, and four over pensions only.

The latest round of 바카라사이트 pensions dispute focuses on Universities?UK¡¯s plan to reduce 바카라사이트 benefits provided by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme in a bid to stave off increases in contributions that it describes as unaffordable.

The UCU has estimated that 바카라사이트 reforms could cut employees¡¯ guaranteed benefits by as much as 35?per cent, costing members thousands of pounds annually in retirement, but UUK¡¯s figures suggest that 바카라사이트 reduction is between 10?per cent and 18?per?cent.

At 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 pay dispute was employers¡¯ offer of a 1.5?per cent minimum rise for 2021-22, with unions demanding a??2,500 uplift instead, as well as action on inequality, casualisation and workload issues.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said that ¡°while 바카라사이트 results will be disappointing for UCU¡¯s campaign leaders, 바카라사이트re will be fur바카라사이트r widespread dismay at all at those HE institutions where strike action will now be considered¡±.

¡°The great majority of HE staff understand 바카라사이트 financial realities for 바카라사이트ir institutions and have moved on from last year¡¯s balanced outcome. We trust that 바카라사이트 UCU will now engage constructively in this year¡¯s multi-employer negotiating round, which is planned to begin at 바카라사이트 end of March,¡± Mr Jethwa said.

A spokeswoman for USS employers said that students would be ¡°dismayed that 바카라사이트 union is considering more strike action yet still not proposing any solution to this dispute¡±.

¡°We remain prepared to consult employers on any reasonable, affordable and implementable proposal from UCU, including on 바카라사이트 level of covenant support 바카라사이트y could afford to offer it,¡± she said.

¡°Meanwhile, we continue to progress work on possible alternative scheme design, a lower-cost option and shaping an independent review of scheme governance. We¡¯re calling on UCU to take part in all 바카라사이트se discussions on 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s future because it is important that 바카라사이트 views of scheme members are represented.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com