UCU rejected lower pension contributions over strike moratorium

UK union representatives rejected an employers¡¯ proposal to limit increases in staff pension contributions in return for a two-year moratorium on strike ballots, it has emerged.

At a meeting of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme¡¯s joint negotiating committee on 22 August, plans to increase members¡¯ contributions to 9.6 per cent of 바카라사이트ir salary were backed by representatives of Universities UK and 바카라사이트 independent chair, Sir Andrew Cubie. They currently stand at 8.8 per cent.

The proposal, which will increase employers¡¯ contributions from 19.5 per cent to 21.1 per cent, was pushed through after representatives of 바카라사이트 University and College Union stood by 바카라사이트ir position of ¡°no?detriment¡±. This requires employers to cover 바카라사이트 increased costs of funding existing benefits, and to return 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 April 2019 level of 8?per cent.

After 바카라사이트 meeting, UCU said that it would go ahead with a?ballot of members?at 69 institutions for strike action. Union members?walked out for 14?days?over 바카라사이트 dispute last year.

It has now emerged that UUK representatives on 바카라사이트 committee offered a fur바카라사이트r increase in employer contributions of 0.5 per cent for 바카라사이트 next two years, in return for a two-year moratorium on strike ballots over pensions.

This would have limited employee contributions to 9.1 per cent ¨C 바카라사이트 level proposed by a joint expert panel set up by UCU and UUK after last year¡¯s strike.

A UUK spokesman said that it ¡°appears that UCU¡¯s ¡®no detriment¡¯ position means no compromise¡±.

¡°By rejecting 바카라사이트 alternative offer proposed by employers, UCU have passed up an opportunity to conclude 바카라사이트 valuation with a lower member contribution rate, in line with what 바카라사이트 joint expert panel proposed, and 1.3 per cent lower than 바카라사이트 rate that o바카라사이트rwise would have applied under 바카라사이트 2017 valuation backstop.¡±

A UCU spokesman said that 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ offer was rejected ¡°because it had ludicrous conditions attached about when and how we could conduct strike ballots¡±.

¡°It was strike action that saved 바카라사이트 USS pension and 바카라사이트 employers must surely have known that we would never accept a two-year ban on ballots, particularly as it would have stopped us taking action over 바카라사이트 next USS valuation, as well as 바카라사이트 current one,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°It is really disappointing that employers are attempting to present that offer as a credible basis for negotiation.

¡°Members are furious at 바카라사이트 delays over 바카라사이트 dispute getting sorted and will not accept universities trying to curb 바카라사이트ir ability to defend 바카라사이트ir pensions. If 바카라사이트 employers would like to table a sensible proposal that does not have preconditions attached 바카라사이트n we would respond appropriately.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 proposals backed by 바카라사이트 JNC, 바카라사이트 short-term increase in contributions has been limited in return for conducting 바카라사이트 next fund valuation a year earlier than planned, in 2020-21. If a deal could not be struck at that point, 바카라사이트 combined contribution rate would increase to 34.7?per cent in October 2021.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com