IMPORTANT #USS UPDATE! Friday saw two big decisions made with big implications for the future of USS. One took place at UCU's HEC, the other at the UCU/UUK Joint Negotiating Committee. You need to be aware of what happened at both! READ ON... 1/ @JosephineCumbo @jgro_the
SECOND MEETING FIRST: the JNC agreed (yes, agreed!) to formally revoke the January imposition of a defined contribution scheme. This is an important moment! DC is gone, and not coming back. This makes concrete previous loose pledges from @AlistairJarvis & UUK. 2/
It is expected that #USS will now prepare to implement 'cost-sharing' to start in April 2019. This will leave benefits unchanged (at least up to the DC threshold), but will mean big contribution rises. See thread by @MikeOtsuka: 3/
We might hope that the Joint Expert Panel (JEP) - the only concrete concession offered in the UUK proposal which paused the dispute - can affect what happens next year. Which brings us on to the earlier meeting of the @UCU's HEC, and less good news... 4/
It was for @UCU's Higher Education Committee to agree the Terms of Reference for the Joint Expert panel on behalf of UCU. These had been drawn up in discussions with UUK involving our general secretary + other officials, but without (as we understand it) our negotiating team. 5/
These Terms of Reference have now been made public by @UCU. And they contain what some may consider troubling elements. Top of the list: the meetings of the JEP will be CONFIDENTIAL, as will any data provided by USS. >>> Read the full ToR! >>> list.mercury.ucu.org.uk/t/48103/374338… 6/ 
The HEC was advised by UCU's officials to vote in favour of these terms of reference, which it did, despite significant opposition from some delegates, and more concerns about proper process, reminiscent of reports of earlier HEC meetings. cityucu.org.uk/2018/04/28/rep… 7/
Hence UCU has agreed to keep the JEP hidden. Is that what members voted for? Sally Hunt, 6 April: "If we vote to accept, making the JEP work for you will be our next key job. We need to ... ensure the panel reports in a timely fashion and report back regularly to members." 8/
Even @UniversitiesUK's @AlistairJarvis had previously expressed an aim "to create more transparency and understanding of how the scheme is valued". Where is that transparency now? universitiesuk.ac.uk/news/Pages/Pan… 9/
The lack of transparency of the JEP may be an attempt to give panel members space to deliberate in the face of large amounts of interest. Our committee requested precisely the opposite approach for the @SheffieldUni USS working group! >>> FULL TEXT >>> ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/upl… 10/
Other troubling elements of the Terms of Reference include the lack of accountability of UCU's chosen representatives, and the method of their appointment. See another excellent, and short, @USSbriefs piece coauthored by our own @DrJoGrady. medium.com/ussbriefs/is-t… 11/
So, what to do? If your analysis fits with ours, you should sign the petition started by @DrLeeJones and @aechitty1 to pressure @UCU's National Executive Committee (which meets this Friday) to revisit the decision. change.org/p/ucu-national… 12/
PS You can find (leaked) paperwork for both meetings at the link below. academicfreedom.watch/node/7
