Fifty-eight universities will be hit with three days of strike action in December after University and College Union members backed industrial action over pension cuts, pay and working conditions.
Staff from the 58 universities will walk out from December 1 to December 3, after 76 per cent of UCU members who voted on the pension ballot backed strike action, while 88 per cent voted in favour of action short of a strike.
The strike action follows a protracted battle between the trustees of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, Universities UK — which represents 340 USS employers — and the UCU over the assumptions underlying its 2020 valuation.
Pensions Expert previously reported that the scheme’s latest valuation saw the deficit quadrupling to more than £14bn, necessitating a rise in contributions to between 30.7 per cent and 42.1 per cent of payroll under the most favourable scenarios.
We have repeatedly stated willingness to consult employers on any viable, affordable and implementable alternative proposal from the UCU and we remain fully committed to continuing talks to develop a joint approach to the future of the pension scheme
Universities UK
The rates could be increased to as much as 56.2 per cent of payroll, unless employers agree to a series of conditions.
Earlier in November, UCU outlined a series of demands of UUK, namely in calling for a new valuation, as well as pension cuts to be revoked and for employers to improve their pay offer.
Potential for sustained disruption
The overall turnout on the pension ballot was 53 per cent, yet the union said that ballots were “disaggregated”. The union has also confirmed plans to re-ballot a number of branches that missed the 50 per cent turnout threshold, warning that the three-day strike action will be “the start of sustained disruption for the sector if employers fail to negotiate”.
As well as the three-day walkout, staff at 64 universities have a mandate to take action short of a strike.
This will also begin on December 1 and will include strictly working to contract and refusing any additional duties for five months.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Strikes over three consecutive days are set to hit university campuses next month, unless employers get around the table and take staff concerns over pension cuts, pay and working conditions seriously.
“UCU has repeatedly asked employers to meet with us to try to resolve these disputes. But while we set out pragmatic solutions that could halt widespread disruption to UK campuses, university bosses refuse to revoke unnecessary, swingeing pension cuts or even to negotiate on issues like casualisation and the unbearably high workloads that blight higher education,” she added.
The UCU intends to escalate its disputes next term if employers do not make improved offers, the union said on its website.
Grady added: “A resolution to this dispute is simple. But if employers remain intent on slashing pensions and exploiting staff who have kept this sector afloat during a pandemic, then campuses will face strike action before Christmas, which will escalate into spring with re-ballots and further industrial action.”
National Union of Students national president Larissa Kennedy said that the “onus for minimising disruption for students lies with university bosses”, and that they must “come back to the table to address the clear issues in how higher education is currently run”.
Strike will not address needs
A UUK spokesperson said that it regrets the upcoming industrial action, as “fewer than 10 per cent of eligible pension scheme members voted yes to strike action”.
They added that strike action will not address the “urgent need for reform to keep the scheme affordable”.
Could CDC solve the USS crisis?
Collective defined contribution has been touted as a possible long-term solution to the problems of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, but experts and unions are not convinced of its suitability.
“Universities will put in place measures to minimise the impact on students, other staff and the wider university community, and will ensure that students can continue to learn and receive support,” they said.
“We have repeatedly stated willingness to consult employers on any viable, affordable and implementable alternative proposal from the UCU and we remain fully committed to continuing talks to develop a joint approach to the future of the pension scheme.”
Earlier in November, UUK argued against claims made by the UCU, stating that the rate increases facing USS members would not be alleviated by a new valuation.
