University pensions


The UCU university staff union is moving closer to strike action, after a national consultative ballot showed overwhelming support for industrial action to protect pensions.


In the consultation, which closed earlier this month, 87% of UCU members said they would be prepared to take industrial action in order to defend the existing benefits of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The defined benefit scheme covers the majority of staff mainly in the older “pre-1992” universities.


Negotiations between UCU and Universities UK, the umbrella body for universities, over the future of USS are ongoing. 


The union says that analysis commissioned by USS shows that universities have the ability to pay extra in order to safeguard existing benefits. Universities have so far rejected this option, and some have signalled that they want to move to a defined contribution scheme.


https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/8981/Strikes-at-UK-universities-a-step-closer-as-staff-back-industrial-action-over-pensions?list=1676