THREAD. This blog is apparently the best that the IBL can do on the UUK offer. So let me explain why it is wrong. I focus here on the blatant factual inaccuracies rather than judgement calls, on which reasonable disagreement is possible.
ucuagenda.com/2018/04/04/the… /1 #RejectUUKdeal
ucuagenda.com/2018/04/04/the… /1 #RejectUUKdeal
7.2: "the 2017 valuation would effectively, be put on hold while an independent expert panel reviews USS’s valuation methodology and its claims that there is a deficit." /2
WRONG. The USS trustees have said that the latest (Nov 2017) valuation remains live until "new material evidence" is supplied, and tPR has not said it will waive the June 30 deadline. /3
Indeed, Ozanne himself later states: "In the short-term, USS must be persuaded to, in effect, postpone the 2017 valuation and throw away all the statutory member consultation paperwork it has prepared..." /4
"... the Pensions Regulator and Government will almost certainly have to agree that a way can be found around the June 30th statutory deadline for the 2017 valuation"! /5
7.4: "UUK agree that any scheme implemented after April 2019 should be broadly comparable to the current DB scheme and to the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) our colleagues in post-1992 universities and schools benefit from." /6
WRONG. This is what the statement actually says: "Alongside the work of the panel both sides agree to continue discussion on the following areas: comparability between TPS and USS..." There is zero commitment to making USS "broadly comparable" with TPS. None. /7
7, further down: "we have to have confidence that... “broadly comparable” means very close to the status quo we have all fought to keep." /8
Yes, that's exactly what we are being asked to believe: that the untrustworthy UUK will allow us to keep our pensions at current levels, despite using similar language to describe cuts of 40-75%. Who in their right mind would take this on trust? /9
8.2: "consulting members would not mean any loss of momentum"
Wrong. The ballot has plunged the union into prolonged internal struggle, distracting from preparing for next strikes. The ballot closes on 13 April and TWO DAYS LATER the next strike is supposed to happen. /10
Wrong. The ballot has plunged the union into prolonged internal struggle, distracting from preparing for next strikes. The ballot closes on 13 April and TWO DAYS LATER the next strike is supposed to happen. /10
8: "55-60% of branches reported that their members were in favour of balloting members on the March 23rd offer while 35-40% voted not to ballot but to charge the UCU negotiators to “revise and resubmit”... it is irrefutable that a clear majority favoured balloting members.)" /11
Wrong. 25% of branches wanted an immediate ballot. 25% wanted further reassurances. 50% wanted "revise and resubmit". See my analysis here: medium.com/@drleejones/uc…, section 3. /12
Conclusion: Ozanne and Gunz are either misrepresenting reality or they do not understand it. Either way, Ozanne is clearly unfit for the important UCU offices he holds. And this is the best that the "yes" side can do? /end #RejectUUKdeal
