On the go: More than 100 University of Dundee staff will be balloted on strike action after rejecting plans to close its defined benefit scheme to new members, Unite the union has announced.
This is the latest development in a long-running dispute that stems from the university’s decision in March 2021 to close its DB scheme and replace it with a defined contribution scheme.
The university claimed that changes were necessary because of higher costs faced by the University of Dundee Superannuation Scheme and increased risks from longer life expectancy, historically low interest rates, and volatile economic conditions.
UoDSS members include university technicians, administrators, student support staff, and estates staff such as plumbers, joiners and electricians.
Unite members previously backed strike action in October 2021, but postponed it after the university agreed to remove the switch to a DC scheme.
On May 17, however, 94 per cent voted against the university’s proposals to close the DB scheme to new members and plans to increase the retirement age from 65 to 68 and reduce the scheme’s accrual rate from 1/80ths to 1/100ths.
A ballot will now run from May 23 until June 10, with industrial action likely to commence at the beginning of the new academic year in September.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members have emphatically rejected these proposals, which would leave hundreds of workers at the University of Dundee worse off in retirement.
“Six months of feet-dragging by the university has only stiffened our members’ resolve. They have Unite’s full support in the defence of their pensions and strike action is now firmly back on the cards.”
Susan Robertson, Unite’s industrial officer, added: “Unite’s door always remains open for meaningful consultation and negotiations, but if there is no movement by management then they should prepare for long-term disruption starting in the new academic year.”
A spokesperson for the University of Dundee said: “Our proposal for UoDSS comprises a revised DB scheme alongside a DC scheme, allowing existing members of UoDSS to choose the scheme which best serves their needs.
“The new DC scheme will ensure that there is a pension offering that is more affordable to those who are not served by the current DB scheme and widens the availability of a pension to many more than the current members.
“Once the switch to this new scheme is made, new employees will be able to join the DC scheme, but not the DB scheme, which will be closed to new members.”
The spokesperson added: “We have made a competitive offer in relation to UoDSS, which presents existing scheme members with real choice.
“We remain committed to full consultation with the campus unions, a process which still has over a month to run.”
While the pension consultation remains open, the proposed changes are scheduled to come into effect from January 2023.
