This red underlined claim is false👇. It appears in yesterday's piece in @GuardianEdu, by @ucu's GS @DrJoGrady, in which she defends taking strike action against @USSEmployers over #USS pensions. 1/ 
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers The Joint Expert Panel (JEP) did not conclude that the scheme could continue with a much lower contribution rate. Rather, JEP proposed a 9.1% member contribution rate, alongside a 20.1% employer rate, between now & a 2020 valuation. 2/
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers .@USSEmployers offered members a 9.1% rate between now & a 2020 valuation👇. They did so, even though this entailed a 21.6% employer rate, which is 1.5% higher than what JEP had proposed. 3/
ussemployers.org.uk/sites/default/…
ussemployers.org.uk/sites/default/…
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers .@ucu's HEC declined to consult members to ask them whether they would call off the strike ballot and accept a 9.1% member rate until a 2020 valuation, which is the same level that JEP had proposed. 4/4
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers .@ucu JNC negotiator @Sam_Marsh101 replies here👇 (& in tweets below). My responses below. 1/
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 Here's my response to Sam's first tweet👆: given the context, the "contribution rate" referred to in the red-highlighted passage is the member, not the total, rate. 9.1% member is not "much lower" than 9.6% member. 2/
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 Re Sam's 2nd tweet👇 plus the ones below it, these claims regarding application of JEP recommendations to a 2018 valuation are a red herring… 4/
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 …for reasons I spell out in this thread, which I encourage all #USS members to read👇. 5/
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 In sum, a disappointing reply from Sam. It would have better to come clean & admit that the red-highlighted claim was a mistake. 6/6
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 Here is the missing tweet #3/:
Moreover, even if the red-underlined "contribution rate" is a misleading reference to the total, rather than the member, contribution rate, it's a stretch to maintain that 29.2% is "much lower" than 30.7%. 3/
Moreover, even if the red-underlined "contribution rate" is a misleading reference to the total, rather than the member, contribution rate, it's a stretch to maintain that 29.2% is "much lower" than 30.7%. 3/
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 PS: Esp dubious that the red-underlined refers to steep contribution rises members face despite JEP's conclusion regarding "much lower" contribution rate, given that members are paying more than the 9.1% JEP proposed on account of UCU's refusal to accept employer offer of 9.1%.
@GuardianEdu @ucu @DrJoGrady @USSEmployers @Sam_Marsh101 PPS: The Guardian piece also repeats the following false claim👇.
