14 March 2018 Matt Sisson, Projects and Membership Manager
If you were driving on to campus this morning you will be aware that, despite a deal of sorts being reached at the ACAS facilitated talks over the weekend, the USS pension strikes are still ongoing. Following consultation, UCU branches have rejected the proposal, which would have seen a partial backtrack on the part of employers while a new independent valuation commission came to a conclusion on the size of the deficit.
This progress is null and void now, however, and it is looking increasingly likely that the dispute will drag on into exam season. Not great news for a sector battling to present a positive image in the light of months of negative press coverage. University pensions are a popular topic, so take your pick of comment from the Guardian, Independent, and the BBC, among others. Here’s UCU’s take on its decision, and here’s the response from UUK.