UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[redsquirrel]

Yeah exactly what I expected, your usual crap.

So the leadership of the union (who is this leadership by the way the policy of union is set (officially by congress) should take a decision that is directly contrary to what the overwhelming majority of members want. True leadership there

You fucking lickspittle

 

[platinumsage]

Yeah exactly what I expected, your usual crap.

So the leadership of the union (who is this leadership by the way the policy of union is set (officially by congress) should take a decision that is directly contrary to what the overwhelming majority of members want. True leadership there

You fucking lickspittle

No, I said it was in members best interests and the leadership should have started a debate on it with members.

But you're being a cunt so I'll just leave this thread.

 

[redsquirrel]

Good, fuck off bootlicker.

The defined benefit scheme (which is what members want) is robust and there is not reason to reject it. Any issues with the USS scheme have been purposely created by employers and the USS trustees.

Workers, in all sectors, have always preferred defined benefit schemes, because they know they are better for them, and the attack on DB schemes is nothing to do with affordability but a political attack by bosses. The loss of a one of the few remaining DB schemes would not only be to the disadvantage of HE staff but to all workers. We need to fight for DB schemes for all.

 

[platinumsage]

Good, fuck off bootlicker.

Good luck on your ongoing membership drive and winning over comrades

The defined benefit scheme (which is what members want) is robust and there is not reason to reject it. Any issues with the USS scheme have been purposely created by employers and the USS trustees.

Workers, in all sectors, have always preferred defined benefit schemes, because they know they are better for them, and the attack on DB schemes is nothing to do with affordability but a political attack by bosses. The loss of a one of the few remaining DB schemes would not only be to the disadvantage of HE staff but to all workers. We need to fight for DB schemes for all.

And how’s that working out and will continue to work out? If we can’t win the best DB scheme, which we can’t, it’s already lost, then the best DC scheme we could get might be something worth contemplating, no?

 

[redsquirrel]

You're not a comrade.
You're a bosses stooge - pretending to be oh so progressive for asking for greater crumbs while helping the bosses steal the cake.

2018 was a huge win, and yes the union has made mistakes but this is a fight we can win if we are willing to commit to it.

 

[platinumsage]

You're not a comrade.
You're a bosses stooge - pretending to be oh so progressive for asking for greater crumbs while helping the bosses steal the cake.

2018 was a huge win, and yes the union has made mistakes but this is a fight we can win if we are willing to commit to it.

It went to shit in 2016, nothing after that was a win.

Should a rescind my strike vote then or what, if i’m a “bosses stooge”?

 

[redsquirrel]

2018 was a major step forward for the union - a real move away from servicing to organising. It saved DB, it brought new members into the union and rejuvenated the culture. It was not a complete success and there are still problems with the union (service culture is still too high).

You could try showing some solidarity, rather than calling for the fight to be thrown in and the leadership to go against members wishes.

 

[flypanam]

Pitiful turn out from my branch, 31%. Although 68% yes vote. Library vote 100% for strike.

Senior management announced another round of restructuring so hopefully if we re ballot might bring us up over 50.

 

[platinumsage]

2018 was a major step forward for the union - a real move away from servicing to organising. It saved DB, it brought new members into the union and rejuvenated the culture. It was not a complete success and there are still problems with the union (service culture is still too high).

You could try showing some solidarity, rather than calling for the fight to be thrown in and the leadership to go against members wishes.

All I did was suggest that a wider conversation about the best achievable pension should have taken place. I don’t expect most members to agree with me about the best outcomes. 2018 might have been great for the union, but the pension was already shafted in 2016 when they went to career average salary and put a cap above which it was DC.

I show solidarity by voting to strike for things that don’t personally affect me, your playground lickspittle crap would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic.

 

[redsquirrel]

Of course, just like you showed solidarity by arguing that staff should be teaching in person last October.

 

[Brainaddict]

Seems my branch fell short by a handful of votes so can't participate unless there's a re-ballot. About 80% of those who did vote were in favour but I guess the system is designed to let apathy win.

I have mixed feelings about whether or not academia is worth saving tbh, but will always come out on strike with people.

 

[Skim]

Massive turnout from my branch, with 86% in favour of a strike.

 

[aqua]

Good turn out from mine too

 

[braindancer]

Our branch was just under 50% on the pensions ballot, but just over on the four fights...

 

[Miss-Shelf]

Our branch only had 37% turn out ;(

 

[hitmouse]

54 universities over the line for Four Fights, making 58 in total cos there are 4 that voted over pensions but not this:

Big mandate for strike action at UK universities over pay & working conditions

Members of UCU at UK universities have backed strike action in a ballot over pay and working conditions.

ucu.org.uk

 

[SpackleFrog]

What do we make of the Grady plan for an aggregated reballot on 4 fights next year?

 

[hitmouse]

What do we make of the Grady plan for an aggregated reballot on 4 fights next year?

First I'm hearing of it, but it sounds like a bit of a risky move given that they say "Overall, the pay ballot turnout was 50.6%."

 

[SpackleFrog]

First I'm hearing of it, but it sounds like a bit of a risky move given that they say "Overall, the pay ballot turnout was 50.6%."

It's incredibly risky, particularly as aggregated ballots generally mean lower turnouts, and activists are already tired. But that's what Grady is proposing. Branch Delegate Meeting this Friday.

 

[nino_savatte]

Good turnout in one of my branches. and just over the threshold in the other. (70.6% and 50.6% respectively)

 

[SpackleFrog]

Corona Contract article, for those interested. If anyone would like to get involved in the Corona Contract campaign (which is primarily for casualised members but all welcome) feel free to DM.

 

[hitmouse]

It's incredibly risky, particularly as aggregated ballots generally mean lower turnouts, and activists are already tired. But that's what Grady is proposing. Branch Delegate Meeting this Friday.

Have the UCU decided/announced what they're doing yet? I was sort of expecting there'd be an announcement after the meeting, but there doesn't seem to have been one. Unless they've somehow managed to drag Friday's meeting out for 48+ hours?

 

[Cerv]

https://archive.vn/VOrss

support in strange places - in the FT opinion pages even saying that the USS are being excessively cautious in trying to fund the scheme to the point of being disaster proof.

 

[hitmouse]

UCU out for the first three days of December:

Universities to be hit with three days of strikes in December

58 universities will be hit with three days of strike action from Wednesday 1 December to Friday 3 December.

ucu.org.uk

 

[SpackleFrog]

Have the UCU decided/announced what they're doing yet? I was sort of expecting there'd be an announcement after the meeting, but there doesn't seem to have been one. Unless they've somehow managed to drag Friday's meeting out for 48+ hours?

It's out now. The justification for the delay is that legally they need to notify employers of industrial action etc.

 

[hitmouse]

It's out now. The justification for the delay is that legally they need to notify employers of industrial action etc.

In all fairness, compared to certain other unions that might be just gearing up to start balloting over the 2021 pay claim when the UCU action finishes, UCU are moving at lightning speed.

 

[hitmouse]

Was mildly curious about how the upcoming strikes at 58 institutions compared to the last wave, sounds like it was 61 that got over the line in 2018, and 2019-2020 was 60 at first, rising to 74 after reballots. So sounds like it's fallen off slightly compared to the previous votes, but not by much?

 

[SpackleFrog]

In all fairness, compared to certain other unions that might be just gearing up to start balloting over the 2021 pay claim when the UCU action finishes, UCU are moving at lightning speed.

Yeah that's fair I should have a sign in my house somewhere that says "at least you're not in Unison."

Was mildly curious about how the upcoming strikes at 58 institutions compared to the last wave, sounds like it was 61 that got over the line in 2018, and 2019-2020 was 60 at first, rising to 74 after reballots. So sounds like it's fallen off slightly compared to the previous votes, but not by much?

Fallen slightly definitely. The pandemic has been demobilising and we weren't as prepared as we could have been going into the ballots - also, ludicrously short ballot window as well, we did alright considering.

 

[hitmouse]

Statement and some printable resources from the wobs:

Support striking university workers and build worker-student solidarity! - Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

Support striking university workers and build worker-student solidarity! Education workers with the University and College Union (UCU) are preparing for another battle around pensions, casualization, pay, and discrimination. This is the third time workers mobilise on these issues which continue…

iww.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Crossposting here:
Goldsmiths strike fundraiser raffle and online poetry thing:

Goldstrike Poetry Night & Raffle

Raising funds to support striking workers at Goldsmiths #goldstrike More info about industrial action at Goldsmiths: https://goldsmithsucu.

www.eventbrite.com

Also, Unison finally due to start balloting soon at 37 unis:

Higher Education pay ballot - Vote YES to strike for the pay you deserve

It is no surprise that a majority of members have decided that a 1.5% pay rise – for the majority of staff – simply isn’t good enough.We can’t wait any longer, 1.5% isn’t going to cut it and we need to let them know now by standing together.

www.unison.org.uk