University strikes to run into exams period
Students face disruption to summer timetables as employers and staff fail to agree deal on pensions
STUDENTS face having their exams disrupted after university staff rejected a pension deal and threatened to continue strike action into the summer term. Yesterday the University and College Union (UCU) said talks to end the deadlock had failed.
The union vowed to begin “detailed preparations” for further strikes “over the assessment and exam period”, which would severely disrupt student exams and finals.
The UCU has been locked in a battle with Universities UK (UUK) over pension reforms designed to address a reported deficit and rising benefit costs. An agreement was reached on Monday whereby employers and employees would temporarily pay higher contributions to plug the fiscal gap. It would have seen the deficit, thought to be £6 billion, re-evaluated independently.
But the proposals were rejected, the union said. Lectures and classes have been disrupted at 60 universities by 14 days of strikes over four weeks, ending with a five-day walkout until Friday.
Sally Hunt, union general secretary, said: “Strike action remains on and we will make detailed preparations for strikes over the assessment and exam period.
“We want urgent talks with the universities’ representatives to try to find a way to get this dispute resolved.”
The row centres on proposals that would change the Universities Superannuation Scheme from giving workers a guaranteed income in retirement to one in which pensions are subject to fluctuations in the stock market.
UCU argued the reforms would leave a retired lecturer £10,000 a year worse off. UUK said it would consult USS employers ahead of a negotiating committee meeting to be attended by UUK and UCU representatives today.
A UUK spokesman said: “It is hugely disappointing that students’ education will be further disrupted through continued strike action.
“We have engaged extensively with UCU negotiators to find a mutually acceptable way forward. The jointly developed proposal on the table, agreed at ACAS, addresses the priorities that UCU set out. We have listened to the concerns of university staff and offered to increase employer contributions to ensure that all members would receive meaningful defined benefits.
“We recognised concerns raised about the valuation and have agreed to convene an independent expert valuation group.
“Our hope is that UCU can find a way to continue to engage constructively, in the interests of students and those staff who are keen to return to work.”