By Gavin Mackintosh-
University bosses and union officials have agreed to meet next week for talks in the wake of a deep row over plans to amend the current University staff pensions scheme
After a second day of walkouts, Universities UK called on the University and College Union to attend talks on the pension scheme next Tuesday,
UCU shave agreed to the meeting, but warned that no resolution will be achieved unless employers were prepared to discuss the current proposal on the table .
In a statement, UUK said: “It is of paramount importance that both sides make every effort to meet – despite the ongoing industrial action – to stop any impact and disruption to students.”
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “Because this is so serious for students and for staff we will of course attend. I am however very concerned that UUK has explicitly ruled out discussing the imposed changes that have caused the strikes.
“The universities minister was very clear that he wanted talks without preconditions and we hope UUK will reconsider his words before we meet on Tuesday. We remain committed to serious negotiations aimed at resolving this dispute.”
The dispute centres on proposals put forward by UUK in January for the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) which would see it move from a “defined benefit” scheme, which gives workers a guaranteed income in their retirement, to become a “defined contribution” scheme, in which pensions are subject to fluctuations in the stock market
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The dispute centres on proposals put forward by UUK in January for the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) which would see it move from a “defined benefit” scheme, which gives workers a guaranteed income in their retirement, to become a “defined contribution” scheme, in which pensions are subject to fluctuations in the stock market.
UUK maintains that the pension scheme has a deficit of more than £6 billion that cannot be ignored, insisting that it has met union officials more than 35 times to discuss reforms.
UCU is discontent, arguing that the current proposals would leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement.
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In its statement, UUK reiterated that it has “never refused” to continue to try to find an “affordable, mutually acceptable solution” and that it would be “willing to discuss a credible proposal that addresses the significant financial issues the scheme is facing”.
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