In September, I wrote that it was essential we take a stand over #USS in order to shift the balance of power in the discussions. The resounding mandate and first wave of strike action have totally changed the dynamics of recent meetings. 2/ medium.com/ussbriefs/why-…
Our employers' representatives at @UniversitiesUK had, since May, tried to convince members and employers that #USS's 'Option 3' was the best possible outcome within the law, and in line with the recommendations from the JEP's first report. 3/
Here's the chair of the Employers Pension Forum, @AdamTickell, in the Financial Times, saying Option 3 "substantially" meets the recommendations of JEP1, and expressing full confidence in how #USS is run under his previous boss, David Eastwood. 4/ ft.com/content/c9be3a… 
While JEP say that the initial contribution rate of Option 3 "results in broadly similar contribution levels to the Panel's proposals" (30.7% vs 29.2%), they describe the "failure to capitalise on the Panel's recommendations from the first report" as a "missed opportunity". 5/
For how that "missed opportunity" occurred, see my article from this summer. In short, @UniversitiesUK let #USS off the hook, and in doing so sent us down a dead-end. 6/ medium.com/ussbriefs/the-…
The Panel have produced a forward-looking and constructive report, and have not assigned blame. This is helpful, as it will allow us to focus on what needs to change. A separate inquiry into what has been going on behind the scenes is sorely needed. 7/
So, what's the way forward? It seems both @UniversitiesUK and @UCU are willing to enter into facilitated discussions over the recommendations. In my view, @JoanneSegars and/or her Panel are best placed to do that (as offered in the report). Those talks must start urgently. 8/
For those talks to be effective as possible, we need VCs across the sector to be serious about ending the dispute, and they need to act now. Members have been stung before with JEP1 which appeared to offer a solution, only for @UniversitiesUK to allow #USS to cast it aside. 9/
So this goes out to VCs: recognise that there have been a huge failure on behalf of employers to grasp this issue, going back many years. It has been @UCU who has pushed the issues of valuation and governance at #USS while @UniversitiesUK have sat back. 10/
It is time for VCs to realise that there is no cheap solution to this dispute. Your staff have been let down by your inaction, and you will need to dig deep and pay what's necessary to put the dispute behind us and concentrate on the major reform that's needed. 11/11
PS Solidarity with Jane Hutton.
