UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[danny la rouge]

Good articles here:

The struggle so far

Friday 3rd was the last day of a three-day strike action held last week by UCU members at 58 universities across Britain. The strike has been in defence of University workers’ pensions, which will …

educationworker.wordpress.com

From the picket lines

The below is written by an ACG member that has taken part in the most recent round of UCU strike action – three days of strike action from 1st-3rd December and ongoing action short of a strik…

educationworker.wordpress.com

 

[hitmouse]

Nice, had been keeping an eye on Notes from Below to see if they'd be doing their rank and file bulletin again but seen nothing from them so far. Although at the risk of repeating myself, would mention again that Unison start balloting at some institutions today, so from January 28 onwards there is the possibility of joint action at some universities, maybe.

 

[hitmouse]

Turns out Unison are balloting over both (USS) pensions and pay:

USS pension ballot | Higher education | UNISON National

What’s the ballot about? This ballot is related to the proposed changes to your pension, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The

www.unison.org.uk

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

I think there's a few names on the pensions list that aren't on the pay one (Cambridge, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Dundee), so that slightly increases the amount of institutions where there might be joint action when Unison eventually finish balloting. Or maybe they won't get past the threshold, or Unison might call it off anyway, who knows?

 

[hitmouse]

News from Goldsmiths:

Goldsmiths hit with international boycott

UCU has censured Goldsmiths with the ultimate sanction of a global academic boycott over the university's sacking of up to 46 staff.

www.ucu.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

It's back on:

Over a million students at 68 universities to be impacted by up to 10 days of campus walkouts starting in February

University staff are set to walk out for up to 10 days of strike action in two disputes over pensions and pay & working conditions.

www.ucu.org.uk

Would be curious what UCU types think of the strategy here?

In total 68 UK universities will be hit with strike action in February.

The full strike dates, with numbers of institutions involved, are:

• week 1 (USS pension dispute only, 44 institutions): 5 days; Monday 14 to Friday 18 February
• week 2 (both the pension and the pay & working conditions dispute, 68 institutions): 2 days; Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 February
• week 3 (pay & working conditions dispute only, 63 institutions): 3 days; Monday 28 February, Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March

Unison HE ballot has just closed, so we should know by some time next week how many, if any, Unison branches have made it past the threshold and what possibilities there are for co-ordinated action.

 

[aqua]

I suspect we hit the threshold and I'm really going to struggle to go on strike for that number of days. I'm a single mum. Any hit on pay is so hard.
I'm still not convinced there is a win where pensions are concerned.

 

[aqua]

Just to say, I will go on strike obviously. But fuck it's going to kill me

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Just to say, I will go on strike obviously. But fuck it's going to kill me

Are there any hardship funds? That used to be a thing. It should be a thing.

 

[Skim]

Just to say, I will go on strike obviously. But fuck it's going to kill me

Can you apply to the strike fund after deductions? My branch was saying it was an under-used resource and urged everyone to claim after the strike in autumn term…

 

[hitmouse]

I suspect we hit the threshold and I'm really going to struggle to go on strike for that number of days. I'm a single mum. Any hit on pay is so hard.
I'm still not convinced there is a win where pensions are concerned.

If you're not sure, you can check what your place is doing here:

Balloting institutions

The elected representatives on UCU's higher education committee decided to launch another national industrial action ballot on the pay and working conditions dispute. Below is a list of balloting higher education institutions; note that some institutions have multiple UCU branches.

www.ucu.org.uk

Also, just checked, details of how to apply for the strike fund here:

UCU - UCU Fighting Fund 2024

Welcome to UCU’s Membership Portal where you can join the union, manage and update your personal information and find answers to the most frequently raised questions relating to Membership, Employment or the Legal Scheme.

my.ucu.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

If anyone would like to donate to the strike fund and help ensure that they can keep paying out, details of how to do that are here:

Donate to the fighting fund

UCU's fighting fund supports members involved in disputes

www.ucu.org.uk

 

[aqua]

If you're not sure, you can check what your place is doing here:

Balloting institutions

The elected representatives on UCU's higher education committee decided to launch another national industrial action ballot on the pay and working conditions dispute. Below is a list of balloting higher education institutions; note that some institutions have multiple UCU branches.

www.ucu.org.uk

Also, just checked, details of how to apply for the strike fund here:

UCU - UCU Fighting Fund 2024

Welcome to UCU’s Membership Portal where you can join the union, manage and update your personal information and find answers to the most frequently raised questions relating to Membership, Employment or the Legal Scheme.

my.ucu.org.uk

Already had to apply for the 3 days (well 2 of them obviously) for the recent action. I hate it though.

 

[hitmouse]

Fair enough, respect to you for it!

 

[aqua]

Can you apply to the strike fund after deductions? My branch was saying it was an under-used resource and urged everyone to claim after the strike in autumn term…

Yeah I have after the recent action. Still makes you feel pretty shit though tbh

 

[Santino]

I'm still not convinced there is a win where pensions are concerned.

I think there is because there's actually no significant risk to the pension fund. It's already worth more than the best forecasts that were contained in the last valuation. The whole thing is a political attack.

 

[19force8]

Yeah I have after the recent action. Still makes you feel pretty shit though tbh

I can't tell you what to feel, but it makes me feel better knowing people in your position are standing strong

 

[hitmouse]

Fwiw, if anyone's in the market for a big mug, the CWU are flogging these "Direct Action" big mugs as a fundraiser for the UCU strike fund:

The CWU (@CWUnews)

Get your wallets out in solidaritea! The Direct Action oversized mugs are here ☕️ £7.50 inc P&P. All profits straight to the UCU strike fund. Your chance to get a cracking mug for your brew and back striking workers. What’s not to love! https://www.cwu-shop.org/direct-action-pint-mug

nitter.net

Direct Action Pint Mug | CWU Merchandise Store

Direct Action Campaign Pint Mug. £2 from every sale goes towards Direct Action funds.

www.cwu-shop.org

Look like they're in the bi pride flag colours, not sure if that's intentional or not?

 

[cybershot]

Ironically they look like Sports Direct mug through. If there's one companies logo you don't use for improving the workplace conditions, or is that part of the irony?

 

[PursuedByBears]

Ironically they look like Sports Direct mug through. If there's one companies logo you don't use for improving the workplace conditions, or is that part of the irony?

I thought that was the point?

 

[hitmouse]

Ironically they look like Sports Direct mug through. If there's one companies logo you don't use for improving the workplace conditions, or is that part of the irony?

Yeah, I'm guessing it's designed as a deliberate pisstake?

 

[planetgeli]

Partner has UCU elections to vote in. There's an awful lot of paperwork so trying to take a quick short cut here, are there any decent lefties anyone knows of on those ballots who you'd recommend? Just as a starter like, before she ploughs through the paperwork.

 

[Serge Forward]

Avoid anyone from UCU Agenda (aka UCU Surrender). Not that the crafty buggers ever declare their affiliation. If anyone knows which ones they are, please let us know so I can give them a swerve.

 

[nino_savatte]

I work at two institutions that have voted for industrial action. I will be on the picket lines at both places.

 

[hitmouse]

I don't know too much about internal UCU stuff, but fwiw, UCU Left candidates are listed here:

UCU Left

For a democratic accountable campaigning union

uculeft.org

UCU Commons candidates are here:

(Archived) NEC elections (2021)

The 2021-22 round of elections for UCU’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will open on Thursday 27 January 2022 and close on Tuesday 1 March 2022. UCU Commons is putting forward the following can…

ucucommons.org

 

[Serge Forward]

UCU coming is the Grady Bunch no? Hmm... a mixed bag. UCU left were always a bit Swerpy. Is that still the case. At least they're not agenda. I'll figure summat out.

 

[redsquirrel]

Partner has UCU elections to vote in. There's an awful lot of paperwork so trying to take a quick short cut here, are there any decent lefties anyone knows of on those ballots who you'd recommend? Just as a starter like, before she ploughs through the paperwork.

Juliana Ojinnaka is from my region and she's done a decent job on our regional committee. Alan Barker's always struck me as someone who's got decent politics but also good sense.

Avoid anyone from UCU Agenda (aka UCU Surrender). Not that the crafty buggers ever declare their affiliation. If anyone knows which ones they are, please let us know so I can give them a swerve.

All the ones stating they are backing Maxine Looby for VP are whatever the Broad Left/Agenda/whatever - so Adam Ozanne, Ann Gow, Joanne de Groot, Ryan Prout, Dyfig Jones (I may have missed some)

 

[hitmouse]

UCU coming is the Grady Bunch no? Hmm... a mixed bag. UCU left were always a bit Swerpy. Is that still the case. At least they're not agenda. I'll figure summat out.

I mean, they use the Patented SWP Font, that's a bit of a giveaway:

The only name I recognise on there is someone I used to know a bit in the 2000s, he was definitely in the SWP in about 2005 but that was a long time ago now so dunno.

 

[William of Walworth]

Long, detailed, and even possibly (?) quite accurate Observer article today ....

Battle lines drawn over the futuew of UK's biggest pension fund

It's by Jasper Jolly, in the Observer's business pages, and focusses mostly on the financial technicalities of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, tather than on the strike specifically -- a good few quotes from UCU though, tbf.

Anyone here qualified to comment on the superannuation fund's finances though? To give any informed view on how accurate or not that article is?

(This PCS member offers full strike support to you all, anyway! )

 

[hitmouse]

I'm not qualified to offer advice on financial technicalities, but Jasper Jolly is a great name, it's like someone's parody imagination of what a posh English person might be called.

 

[redsquirrel]

Long, detailed, and even possibly (?) quite accurate Observer article today ....

Battle lines drawn over the futuew of UK's biggest pension fund

It's by Jasper Jolly, in the Observer's business pages, and focusses mostly on the financial technicalities of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, tather than on the strike specifically -- a good few quotes from UCU though, tbf.

Anyone here qualified to comment on the superannuation fund's finances though? To give any informed view on how accurate or not that article is?

(This PCS member offers full strike support to you all, anyway! )

At its heart the dispute is not technical it is political - this is about the trustees and employers wanting to get rid of defined benefit.That was there aim in 2018 and it is still their aim, they have just made a change of tack and are trying to salami slice the DB scheme rather than outright remove it.

Most of the technical details support UCU position - the assumptions made by the trustees are absurd - but really by the by.