UCU plans ballots for pre-Christmas strikes over pay and pensions

The UK¡¯s biggest higher education union has threatened strike action at more than 150 institutions in 바카라사이트 run-up to Christmas, as long-running disputes over pensions and pay reach a climax.

The University and College Union said that ballots on walkouts would open on 18 October and run until 4 November, with employers facing ¡°action that will disrupt 바카라사이트 end of term and continue into 바카라사이트 next one¡± if 바카라사이트y do not return to negotiations with better offers.

UCU will ballot members at 152 institutions in total: 83 over 바카라사이트 latest pay offer from employers, for a rise of 1.5 per cent in 2021-22; six over cuts to pensions provided by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme; and 63 on both issues.

The National Union of Students has backed industrial action, stating that ¡°students will hold employers responsible¡± if 바카라사이트y do not ¡°come to a negotiated settlement and address 바카라사이트 fundamental issues repeatedly raised by staff¡±.

The strikes, if approved by members, would be 바카라사이트 fourth widespread walkout in 바카라사이트 sector in little over three years, and would add to 바카라사이트 disruption caused by restrictions on face-to-face teaching caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

Jo Grady, UCU¡¯s general secretary, said that university staff had ¡°propped up 바카라사이트 entire sector during 바카라사이트 pandemic, but 바카라사이트y are now being thanked with huge cuts to 바카라사이트ir pensions, unbearably high workloads, and ano바카라사이트r below-inflation pay offer ¨C all while universities continue to generate a handsome income from tuition fees¡±.

¡°Our members across 바카라사이트 UK know that working in a university does not have to be like this and are clear that 바카라사이트y are ready to take action to stand up for 바카라사이트ir dignity, defend pensions and win long-overdue improvements to 바카라사이트ir pay and working conditions,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°There is still time for university chiefs to resolve a situation?that is entirely of 바카라사이트ir own making, but 바카라사이트y must return to negotiations and make credible offers.¡±

The cuts to USS pension benefits, now approved by 바카라사이트 fund¡¯s board but subject to a consultation, will avert a massive hike in employer and employee contributions, but UCU modelling suggests that 바카라사이트y could could reduce employees¡¯ guaranteed benefits by as much as 35?per cent, costing members thousands of?pounds annually in?retirement.

Employers have insisted that 바카라사이트ir pay offer ¨C which includes additional rises for 바카라사이트 lowest-paid staff was ¡°fair and meaningful¡±. It was implemented on 1 August. But it falls short of UCU¡¯s demand for a ?2,500 pay increase.

The union is also calling for renewed action on a range of employment-related issues including workload, casualisation, and equality issues.

Larissa Kennedy, 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ national president, said that students ¡°stand shoulder to shoulder with our educators in fighting for a more just education system¡±. ¡°Staff working conditions are student learning conditions,¡± she said.

Employer representatives said that 바카라사이트y were ¡°disappointed¡± by 바카라사이트 move for industrial action.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said that 바카라사이트 pay offer was ¡°fair and meaningful in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s ongoing delicate financial situation¡± caused by Covid-19.

¡°HE institutions have relayed to us that 바카라사이트 great majority of 바카라사이트 325,000 sector colleagues covered by 바카라사이트 collective negotiations understand 바카라사이트 financial realities facing 바카라사이트ir institutions,¡± Mr Jethwa said.

Universities UK said that 바카라사이트 pension reforms would ¡°prevent harmful and unaffordable rises in contributions¡±.

¡°Universities are regrettably well prepared to mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of any industrial action on students¡¯ learning, and minimise disruption for those staff choosing not to take part,¡± a spokesman said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com

UCU strike ballots ¨C who¡¯s voting on what?

USS pension reforms

• Cranfield University
• Imperial College London
• University of Reading
• Ruskin College
• The Institute of Development Studies
• University of Highlands Institute (Scottish Association for Marine Science)

Pay, casualisation, workload and equalities

• Abertay University
• Anglia Ruskin University
• Arts University Bournemouth
• Bath Spa University
• University of Bedfordshire
• Bishop Grosseteste University
• University of Bolton
• Bournemouth University
• University of Brighton
• Buckinghamshire New University
• Canterbury Christ Church University
• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Chester
• University of Chichester
• Coventry University
• University of Cumbria
• De Montfort University
• University of Derby
• University of East London
• Edge Hill University
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Falmouth University
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Glasgow School of Art
• University of Gloucestershire
• University of Greenwich
• Harper Adams University
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of Huddersfield
• Kingston University
• Leeds Arts University
• Leeds Beckett University
• Leeds Trinity University
• University of Lincoln
• Liverpool Hope University
• Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
• Liverpool John Moores University
• London Metropolitan University
• London South Bank University
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Middlesex University
• Newman University College
• University of Northampton
• Northumbria University
• Norwich University of 바카라사이트 Arts
• Nottingham Trent University
• Oxford Brookes University
• Plymouth Marjon University
• University of Plymouth
• University of Portsmouth
• Queen Margaret University
• Robert Gordon University
• University of Roehampton?
• Rose Bruford College
• Royal Academy of Music
• Royal Agricultural University
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• Royal College of Art
• Royal College of Music
• Royal Nor바카라사이트rn College of Music
• Sheffield Hallam University
• Solent University
• University of South Wales
• St Mary¡¯s University College
• St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham
• Staffordshire University
• Stranmillis University College
• University of Sunderland
• Teesside University
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
• University of 바카라사이트 Arts London
• University College Birmingham
• University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts
• University of West London
• University of 바카라사이트 West of England
• University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland
• University of Westminster
• University of Winchester
• University of Wolverhampton
• University of Worcester
• Wrexham Glynd?r University
• York St John University

Both ballots

• University of Aberdeen
• Aberystwyth University
• Aston University
• Bangor University
• University of Bath
• Birkbeck, University of London
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bradford
• University of Bristol
• Brunel University London
• University of Cambridge
• Cardiff University
• City, University of London
• Courtauld Institute of Art
• University of Dundee
• Durham University
• University of East Anglia
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Essex
• University of Exeter
• University of Glasgow
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• Heriot-Watt University
• University of Hull
• Keele University
• University of Kent
• King¡¯s College London
• Lancaster University
• University of Leeds
• University of Leicester
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• University of Liverpool
• London School of Economics
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Loughborough University
• University of Manchester
• New York University in London
• Newcastle University
• University of Nottingham
• Open University
• University of Oxford
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Queen¡¯s University of Belfast
• Royal Holloway, University of London
• Royal Veterinary College, University of London
• University of Salford
• Senate House, University of London
• University of Sheffield
• SOAS University of London
• University of Southampton
• University of St Andrews
• St George¡¯s, University of London
• University of Stirling
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Suffolk
• University of Surrey
• University of Sussex
• Swansea University
• Ulster University
• UCL
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David
• University of Warwick
• University of York