PENSION cuts are prompting fears of two-tier pensions being imposed on academics
Staff at some of the UK’s most selective universities will have pensions up to 36% worse than their colleagues at the former polytechnics if radical proposals for academic pensions are forced through, warns new analysis released today.
The changes would mean universities such as Oxford and Cambridge would be offering pension deals worth thousands of pounds less per year than local rivals such as Oxford Brookes or Anglia Ruskin.
The analysis by the University and College Union (UCU) shows how staff at so-called ‘new’ universities who are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) would take home up to £20,000 more a year in retirement than colleagues at Russell Group institutions who belong to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
UCU is balloting members in 68 universities for industrial action to oppose the changes. The ballot opened last Wednesday (1 October) and closes on Monday 20 October. UCU said it will be asking members to back plans for a marking boycott and to refuse to set exams. The action would mean students would not be set coursework or receive formal marks and feedback, and exams would be halted.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: ‘The Russell Group of universities and other self-described elite institutions often boast about being the leading lights of the UK higher education sector. However, if these radical changes are forced through they drop to the bottom of the table for staff pensions.
‘Once prospective staff know that pensions at some of our most famous universities are up to 36% lower than the new universities there will be real concerns about recruitment and retention of the brightest talent.’
• Members of the NASUWT will hold the first of six days of strike action starting today at William Lovell Academy in Stickney, Lincolnshire.
The action has been called as a result of the employer’s unacceptable working practices.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: ‘The strike action is completely avoidable.
‘The NASUWT has made every effort to secure an agreed way forward through negotiation, but the employer has refused to listen to the serious concerns of teachers about the unacceptable practices being adopted for the monitoring of teachers.
‘Our members are all dedicated and committed members of staff, but they have been left with no choice but to make this strong protest
‘All that is needed to avoid this strike action is a commitment by the employer to genuine negotiation and to listen to the concerns of teachers.
‘The ball is now in the employer’s court.’
