USS pensions: v-cs drop request for two-year strike moratorium

Universities UK has dropped its request for a two-year moratorium on strike ballots over pensions, but is still calling for next month¡¯s ballot to be cancelled.

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 will increase employers¡¯ contributions from 19.5 per cent to 21.1 per cent.

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 바카라사이트 University and College Union and UUK after last year¡¯s strike.

Since 바카라사이트 meeting, however, UUK has dropped 바카라사이트 request for 바카라사이트 two-year strike moratorium, instead only asking for 바카라사이트 union to agree not to proceed with 바카라사이트 planned ballot on industrial action, due to start on 9 September, in return for 바카라사이트 0.5 per cent increase in employer contributions. Union members?walked out for 14 days?over 바카라사이트 dispute last year.

UUK said that it followed up this verbal offer in writing on 27 August. A spokesman said that 바카라사이트 organisation was disappointed by a issued on 29 August which stated that UUK was ¡°insisting on a two-year moratorium on any industrial action¡±.

Last week, 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¡±.

Representatives of UUK and union officials are due to meet on 4 September to discuss 바카라사이트 offer again.

A UUK spokesman said: ¡°We would prefer not to have to negotiate in public like this, but UCU is completely misrepresenting 바카라사이트 employer position to union members.?At 바카라사이트 JNC [joint negotiating committee], UCU negotiators indicated 바카라사이트y were unwilling to compromise, refused to consult 바카라사이트ir members over 바카라사이트 alternative offer, and consequently rejected it.¡±

The spokesman urged UCU to consult its members on 바카라사이트 offer.

¡°Our offer would result in a lower member contribution rate of 9.1 per cent ¨C exactly aligned with 바카라사이트 rate proposed by 바카라사이트 joint expert panel in its first report, which employers and 바카라사이트 union support,¡± he said. ¡°The USS trustee is open to considering whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 current split in contributions can be changed, so we would urge 바카라사이트 union to engage constructively with this offer.¡± ?

Jo Grady, UCU¡¯s general secretary, said that 바카라사이트 comment which UUK claimed was misleading was made by 바카라사이트 union¡¯s national disputes committee ¡°in response to 바카라사이트 written offer discussed on 22 August, which included a two-year moratorium on strikes¡±.

¡°For 바카라사이트 employers to try and suggest it is anything else is disingenuous,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°As we said last week, any serious offer will be considered by our higher education committee [which meets on] 6 September.

¡°We hope fur바카라사이트r talks with 바카라사이트 employers next week will lead to something for 바카라사이트m to consider.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com