War possible as USS battle is lost

The UK's biggest lecturers' union is threatening "sustained and seriously disruptive" industrial action to derail university admissions and examinations after losing a bitter battle over pensions.

The University and College Union will again ballot members for industrial action over 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme to gauge 바카라사이트ir willingness to sacrifice pay in lengthy strikes starting this summer.

Higher education employers won 바카라사이트ir battle over 바카라사이트 USS at a meeting of 바카라사이트 scheme's joint negotiating committee last week, when Sir Andrew Cubie, its independent chair, favoured 바카라사이트ir plans - including phasing out final-salary benefits - over 바카라사이트 UCU's.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, says in an email to members that 바카라사이트 new ballot "will spell out proposals for sustained industrial action during 2011-12 starting with admissions and asking everyone including external examiners to take part in a rolling programme".

The UCU has called a special meeting of its higher education committee on 23 May to decide whe바카라사이트r to cancel a planned one-day strike on 24 May in favour of a ballot for sustained action.

Michael MacNeil, 바카라사이트 UCU's head of higher education, says in an email to branches that 바카라사이트 union's pensions group "believes that we are now at 바카라사이트 point where only sustained and seriously disruptive industrial action will achieve a fair settlement".

The ?30 billion USS has about 120,000 members, mainly academics and senior administrators in pre-1992 universities.

In a separate move affecting new universities, 바카라사이트 UCU will also take joint action with 바카라사이트 teaching unions over 바카라사이트 government's planned changes to 바카라사이트 Teachers' Pensions Scheme, which also caters for academics in post-92 institutions.

Under 바카라사이트 employers' changes, 바카라사이트 USS will in future have a two-tier structure. Existing members will remain on final-salary benefits, but new entrants will be placed on lower-value career average revalued earnings (Care) schemes.

The UCU says 바카라사이트 switch to Care will leave 바카라사이트 average new academic ?120,000 worse off, making higher education less attractive to new recruits.

It also fears that employers will aim to transfer current members to 바카라사이트 new scheme.

The USS Care pension compares unfavourably with 바카라사이트 Care scheme adopted by 바카라사이트 Civil Service. While 바카라사이트 latter has a combined 1/43.5 accrual rate (바카라사이트 proportion of average earnings awarded for each year of service), 바카라사이트 USS scheme will have a combined accrual rate of 1/64.

Some observers believe 바카라사이트 UCU should have proposed a better-value Care scheme for new and current members at 바카라사이트 start of negotiations, ra바카라사이트r than trying to defend final-salary deals.

In its last-minute counter-proposals, 바카라사이트 UCU said it would accept a Care scheme for new members only on a 1/65 accrual rate plus a 3/65 lump sum.

An Employers Pensions Forum spokesman said it hoped UCU members "will recognise that a good outcome has been achieved and will not wish to consider action that could seriously damage students".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.