UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[Lord Camomile]

I know our institution uses 365 as we had a big dispute with them about this (and won).

Did occur to me that this might be something we could do too, but sadly I don't think there'd be the fight for it and there are arguably issues that are more important to our members.

 

[redsquirrel]

Did occur to me that this might be something we could do too, but sadly I don't think there'd be the fight for it and there are arguably issues that are more important to our members.

One thing you can make clear is that if they are doing 1/260th then there can be absolutely no expectation that members work weekends for e.g. open days and clearing - and as such the branch will be instructing all members not to take part in any such activities.

EDIT: Also see this Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and decided that the correct deduction was 1/365 of their annual salary. This was on the basis that the work done by the teachers was not limited to weekdays so it was not an obvious decision to calculate on a 1/260 basis. They decided that the sensible approach to take when there is an annual contract is to apportion the annual salary on a day to day basis by treating each day as 1/365 of the salary. The Supreme Court also explained that there can be an express provision in the contract which states in clear terms that apportionment on a 1/365 basis will not take place. In these circumstances, the deduction to be made will depend upon the terms of the particular contract.

EDIT: And this.

If your branch is deducting (or threatening to deduct) 1/260 I'd get in touch with National Office ASAP as it looks like a pretty easy win for once.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Interesting. Will have to look into that; most of us already work weekends, either as part of a regular shift pattern or on a rota (I'm working on Sunday, and will get TOIL in return).

 

[Wilf]

It's ON - for both dispute.

UCU announces eight days of strikes starting this month at 60 universities

Good timing for strikes, hitting VCs with their national student survey obsessions. At one level I fucking love going on strike and everything about opening up the whole charade of working in some magical sector where everything is done 'for our students'. TBH, I can't say I actively like hitting the students, that's why it's so good to get them onside a la the USS. But the idea that they might get pissed off and take it out in things that hit the institution, in the NSS and the league tables... FUCKING SUPERB!

Just a pity we didn't get 50%.

 

[Pickman's model]

.

 

[SpackleFrog]

Just applied to join UCU as a student member. Not sure how much that'll help. But it's free.

If you're a PhD student or likely to be working in HE in future you can take the four years free full membership which gives you a vote in disputes.

 

[SpackleFrog]

Is that correct for all institutions? Last time ours deducted all our pay from one.

They shouldn't do that but that might be because almost all the dates fell in March?

 

[SpackleFrog]

I know our institution uses 365 as we had a big dispute with them about this (and won). It may vary by institution and contract. This indicates that 260 is "in most cases the maximum permissible deduction".

Not true court cases have now made clear that it has to be 1/365th for salaried staff.

Edit: Apologies redsquirrel has you covered.

 

[Lord Camomile]

I've just checked, and it looks like ours is now 1/365 too, presumably in response to that judgement.

(It's clearly been that long since I had to check...)

 

[chilango]

If you're a PhD student or likely to be working in HE in future you can take the four years free full membership which gives you a vote in disputes.

Yeah. It's not quite that - you have to be engaged in some sort of paid "teaching" work. But I have got the student membership for now and my plan is to pick up some "teaching" as soon as I can

 

[SpackleFrog]

Yeah. It's not quite that - you have to be engaged in some sort of paid "teaching" work. But I have got the student membership for now and my plan is to pick up some "teaching" as soon as I can

Even if you're not if you're planning to work in sector you can do it. Don't like that student membership cos you don't get a vote. Have tried to get rid of it.

 

[chilango]

Even if you're not if you're planning to work in sector you can do it. Don't like that student membership cos you don't get a vote. Have tried to get rid of it.

Ah. Presumably I can change it?

 

[SpackleFrog]

Ah. Presumably I can change it?

Yes, very easily, just register on the website with your membership number. Inbox me if you have any problems.

 

[strung out]

Not sure if this is a good place to ask or not.

I work for a post '92 university where this dispute hasn't been an issue. I've also been enrolled in the LGPS for the last 6 years, however I've now got a job for a not-for-profit organisation in the academic sector where I'll be enrolled in USS. Can someone explain what the current situation is with USS and what it might mean for someone who isn't actually working in a university anymore?

 

[SpackleFrog]

Not sure if this is a good place to ask or not.

I work for a post '92 university where this dispute hasn't been an issue. I've also been enrolled in the LGPS for the last 6 years, however I've now got a job for a not-for-profit organisation in the academic sector where I'll be enrolled in USS. Can someone explain what the current situation is with USS and what it might mean for someone who isn't actually working in a university anymore?

Contributions have just been increased so you'll be paying in more than you would have been. If the strike is successful, you will pay lower contributions but receive the same contribution from employers and the same benefits when you retire. But since the strike last year successfully prevented scrapping Defined Benefit, the fund managers are saying contributions have to increase. The scheme is actually reasonably healthy, the employers took payment holidays a few years back, and the fund managers are dodgy.

 

[strung out]

Contributions have just been increased so you'll be paying in more than you would have been. If the strike is successful, you will pay lower contributions but receive the same contribution from employers and the same benefits when you retire. But since the strike last year successfully prevented scrapping Defined Benefit, the fund managers are saying contributions have to increase. The scheme is actually reasonably healthy, the employers took payment holidays a few years back, and the fund managers are dodgy.

Nice explanation - thank you! The LGPS seems simple in comparison to USS, and I couldn't figure out what the state of play was with regard to contributions, as lots of sites seem to have out of date info.

Cheers!

 

[redsquirrel]

Two working days to go!

 

[aqua]

Have fun tomorrow everyone. I do love a picket line

 

[Wilf]

Have fun tomorrow everyone. I do love a picket line

I'm off sick, but had my place got the 50% I'd have gone in just to walk out.

Seriously, have a good 'un. May your flask be ever warm and the scabs contract anthrax.

 

[aqua]

I'm off sick, but had my place got the 50% I'd have gone in just to walk out.

Seriously, have a good 'un. May your flask be ever warm and the scabs contract anthrax.

I'm still in the pub really quite drunk. May my picket line have bacon and patience

 

[redsquirrel]

Hope everyone's picket goes well (I suspect we are all going to be VERY sick of rain by the end of the week).

 

[chilango]

Stay warm and dry everyone! Will be hoping to visit my local picket this morning.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

All the best to every UCU member on here on strike this week.

Hope it goes well

 

[Red Cat]

I hope it goes well all. Nowhere near a picket line to visit I'm afraid.

 

[Santino]

Is there a handy list of striking universities anywhere?

 

[flypanam]

Good luck today to everyone striking, wish I was joing you. Will visit a picket when I'm in town later in the week.

 

[colacubes]

Good luck all. Was just looking to see if my uni (Birkbeck) was striking as I don't want to cross a picket line when I go to my lectures, but it looks like they didn't hit the threshold. I'll take some cakes to UCL instead when I go in tomorrow as they're just round the corner.

 

[chilango]

Passed on my support to a wet but cheerful picket this morning.

 

[aqua]

Wow that was a wet one

 

[redsquirrel]

Is there a handy list of striking universities anywhere?

List of striking uni's here

And for those in branches that did not manage to make the turnout you can donate to the strike fund here

Pretty good turnout on the picket line for our small branch.