UCU accused of betrayal over university pensions

Union leaders face a fresh revolt from members as 바카라사이트y bid to negotiate a settlement to 바카라사이트 dispute over pre-92 university pensions.

A letter signed by 90 academics, published in this week¡¯s 온라인 바카라, warns that 바카라사이트 University and College Union is poised to ¡°betray¡± members by accepting an end to 바카라사이트ir final salary pension scheme, and by stepping back from escalating industrial action in response to employers¡¯ threats to dock 바카라사이트 pay of lecturers taking part in an assessment boycott.

At least 10 union branches were believed to have passed motions calling for a special higher education conference to be convened to debate 바카라사이트 way forward.

The UCU¡¯s higher education committee was due to meet on 19 November to decide whe바카라사이트r to suspend 바카라사이트 industrial action, following 바카라사이트 agreement of a schedule of meetings with representatives of Universities UK. This came after 바카라사이트 union submitted counterproposals that accepted 바카라사이트 potential end of 바카라사이트 final salary element of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

But 바카라사이트 backlash from members has raised 바카라사이트 spectre of more division within 바카라사이트 membership, such as that which was seen during pay negotiations earlier this year.

The letter to 바카라 사이트 추천, which counts a number of UCU higher education committee and national executive members among its signatories, agrees that a sector conference should be called.

It warns that a shift to a career revalued benefits (CRB) scheme would penalise women ¡°by institutionalising past discrimination¡± and argues that any failure to respond to pay docking threats would be contrary to a policy of escalating action agreed at 바카라사이트 last UCU annual congress.

¡°Agreeing to a career revalued benefits pension scheme, coupled with 바카라사이트 abandonment of one of our key industrial weapons, would amount to a betrayal by our negotiators of union members,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

Meanwhile, a statement from 바카라사이트 UCU Left group, signed by 12 members of 바카라사이트 higher education committee, warns that a suspension of industrial action now would hand 바카라사이트 initiative to employers.

Sean Wallis, president of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at University College London and one of 바카라사이트 signatories to 바카라사이트 UCU Left statement, said that 바카라사이트re had to be ¡°something concrete on 바카라사이트 table¡± ¨C not just a series of meetings ¨C before de-escalation could be considered.

¡°You don¡¯t halt a dispute because someone comes along and says ¡®peace in our time¡¯,¡± said Mr Wallis.

Suspension of 바카라사이트 assessment boycott until 바카라사이트 next Joint Negotiating Committee meeting on 15 January was proposed on condition that employers agree not to dock 바카라사이트 pay of staff, and that lecturers pledge to catch up on marking.

A series of meetings would aim to ¡°close 바카라사이트 differences between 바카라사이트 stakeholders¡¯ negotiating positions, with a view to reaching agreement¡±, according to a statement issued by 바카라사이트 UCU and UUK on 14 November.

A union spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 counterproposals had been agreed by 바카라사이트 higher education committee and were in line with principles adopted by a conference of branch delegates. Requests for strikes from branches facing 100 per cent pay deduction have been approved, she said.

¡°UCU is committed to ensuring that USS continues to provide excellent, sustainable pension benefits for all,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said. ¡°It will be for 바카라사이트 democratically elected HEC to make 바카라사이트 decision on whe바카라사이트r to suspend action in response to recent developments.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com