Thread by @JosephineCumbo

A mass meeting of UK university sector workers is to be held today to discuss industrial action over #pension reforms.

This week, the University and College Union (UCU) warned industrial action was "inevitable" over cuts to retirement benefits for members of the #USS scheme.

The UCU claims proposed reforms to #USS pensions, put forward by university employers, will see a typical lecturer receieve abot a third less in retirement income. ft.com/content/19eb45…

On Tuesday, university employers, represented by Universities UK (UUK), voted to implement a set of #USS proposals that will reduce member benefits, but they say will help avoid steep increases in contributions required to fill a scheme deficit of £14bn-£18bn.

UCU says proposals it has drawn up would have delivered higher benefits in return for lower contributions than those put forward by employers.

This proposal was not put forward at a meeting of the Joint Negotiating Commitee, an advisory body to the #USS scheme, on Tuesday.

The #USS pension row is intensifying as other issues around the university sector remain unresolved, including health and safety post Covid, the casualisation of the workforce, pay and workload.

One insider described the challenges facing the sector as a "perfect storm".

USS Employers, which represents university members of the #USS said:

“We hope UCU will choose not to ballot for industrial action, given USS’s formal assessment of the scale of the scheme’s deficit means no change is not an option."

#USSEmployers said its proposals for pension reform were the "only formal alternative to unaffordable contribution rates.”

"The upcoming member consultation on the UUK package is important and open – and could lead to the proposals being amended."

#USSEmployers:

"Employers will still consider alternative benefitstructures and formulations, provided they are viable, affordable and implementable.”