UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[redcogs]

Yeah, each lecture I take costs me about £75. I have 9 lectures per module. Of course I'd want a refund (at the very least) if they don't happen.

But I won't be letting the Uni use that as way to bash the strikers.

I suspect it won't come to that though.

Not giving the uni managers an opportunity to drive a wedge between the students and the striking lecturers is an important thing to do i reckon, and getting students on board to protect pension provision might become a crucial aspect of the dispute. Backing the UCU makes sense from a student POV, they are after all engaged in the academic process, and all will want pensions eventually, and some will become academics themselves, so there is also some self interest involved. Old fashioned unity remains a strength, and who knows, many may begin to question why we have got our society locked into a situation where education is simply another commodity to be bought and sold just like a pound of carrots or a sack of manure.

Education is a crucial right, and should be free, available through a system of GRANTS, not through fucking high interest rate loans etc.

Thats how it used to be until the thieving free marketeers became dominant, and its how it can become again if our side starts to fight back. Victory to the UCU

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Universities UK offices occupied by students as part of #USSstrike

 

[Wilf]

On the student petition, I can see that it might add to the pressure on universities to do something, but it seems unfortunate using the language of consumerism to bring that pressure. Much better to get students actively involved in supporting the strike. I've also seen the petition described in ambiguous terms. There's this for example:
70,000 students call for compensation over UCU lecturer strike
Which has ProfessorChris Forde 'collecting' the petitions, whatever that means. He describes himself as a UCU member and does say the students are not 'explicitly' critical of UCU. But he then positions himself as a wise head, hoping 'the parties' come back to the table. FFS, if he's a UCU member, he's one of the parties.

“The volume of students that have signed up has got to send a signal about the dissatisfaction with the situation. I hope that would at least make the parties consider coming back to the table.

“None of the students are explicitly critical of the stance taken by lecturers. The students seem to be taking it up with their universities. They want their fees compensated and they want them to get back to the negotiating table.”

 

[ddraig]

'Changes will affect pension security'

Up to 60,000 students at Welsh universities could be affected by a staff walk out in a dispute about the UK's biggest pension scheme.

It follows a ballot of 2,000 University and College Union (UCU) members at Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Bangor universities, and University of Wales.

Employers' group Universities UK (UUK) said the pension scheme changes were essential because of its deficit.

But Cardiff University UCU spokesman Andy Williams said staff would be hit financially.

 

[aqua]

we have students asking for a refund if a lecture gets cancelled because of any reason (including staff sickness) so the call for refunds doesn't surprise me at all. How that would ever work in reality, given it's a loan system, is anyones guess.

 

[cybershot]

 

[Jeff Robinson]

“The YouGov poll, conducted on the eve of the strikes, shows that just two per cent of students think university staff are most to blame for the dispute, with half (50%) pointing the finger at the university employers. One in five students (20%) said they thought that both universities and staff were at fault.”

Poll shows students support pension strikes and blame universities for the disruption

 

[ddraig]

 

[purenarcotic]

Solidarity to everyone out, hope you win.

 

[PursuedByBears]

Article in the Guardian by a Lancaster UCU member - The solution to university pensions? Better fund managers

 

[cybershot]

 

[Dowie]

we have students asking for a refund if a lecture gets cancelled because of any reason (including staff sickness) so the call for refunds doesn't surprise me at all. How that would ever work in reality, given it's a loan system, is anyones guess.

I'm not sure why loans should make any difference at all?

Not all students have loans anyway (international students for example or just rich UK students), I think the main factor is just the level of fees they paid - UK vs International for English universities, Scottish and EU(minus rest of UK) vs rest of UK vs International for Scottish universities etc..

 

[Idris2002]

The last couple of mornings have been interesting. I'd say one car in three has sounded the horn in support as they go past.

Anyway, does this look like the management might be getting ready to blink first?

Vice-chancellors ‘prepared to rethink’ USS pension reforms

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

I'm (UCU) striking next week. FE pay is a joke.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

FE pay in England

 

[marty21]

I'm (UCU) striking next week. FE pay is a joke.

I did the PGCE (FE) in 94/95 , had a mini crisis as I was about to turn 30 and decided FE was the answer couldn't get any full-time jobs when I started applying on 95 , all that seemed to be available was a few hours a week at various FE colleges and I couldn't be arsed tbh I wouldn't have been paid in the summer/easter/Christmas. Is it still the same ?

 

[doodlelogic]

It’s all oxbridges fault apparently. Vast majority of unis supported continued defined benefit with higher employer and employee contributions but every Oxford and Cambridge college responded to the pension trustees individually so “41% of employers” objected to the DB scheme continuing. Most of the colleges only have a couple of dozen employees.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

I did the PGCE (FE) in 94/95 , had a mini crisis as I was about to turn 30 and decided FE was the answer couldn't get any full-time jobs when I started applying on 95 , all that seemed to be available was a few hours a week at various FE colleges and I couldn't be arsed tbh I wouldn't have been paid in the summer/easter/Christmas. Is it still the same ?

It can be patchy as fuck. Just did my tax. £8200 total earnings before tax.

 

[redsquirrel]

It’s all oxbridges fault apparently. Vast majority of unis supported continued defined benefit with higher employer and employee contributions but every Oxford and Cambridge college responded to the pension trustees individually so “41% of employers” objected to the DB scheme continuing. Most of the colleges only have a couple of dozen employees.

Cambridge VC has just announced that they support re-opening the negotiations so hopefully the tide is turning.

Good luck with your strike next week Shippou-Sensei. Going be a bloody cold week to be picketing.

 

[aqua]

They better not call off next week I need the study time

 

[PursuedByBears]

I've made plans too...

 

[aqua]

I've made plans too...

I'm really quite up shit creek without a paddle if they do though I will have enough money to eat so you know, swings and roundabouts I guess

 

[2hats]

I don’t think this link has already been posted?

Made in Westminster: The source of the USS ‘crisis’ – and the solution.

 

[doodlelogic]

That article has a common basic misunderstanding which makes me sure unfortunately that the author doesn’t understand economics (so I can’t trust what they say on pensions).

“Unfortunately gilt yields are very low, and likely to remain low, thanks to Quantitative Easing (see below) undermining the UK Government’s credit rating and sterling value.”

 

[SpackleFrog]

I'm (UCU) striking next week. FE pay is a joke.

Solidarity mate, I hope it goes well.

I think we're gonna win this y'kno guys. 18 VC's now calling for fresh talks. Just need to keep everybody solid.

 

[Idris2002]

Solidarity mate, I hope it goes well.

I think we're gonna win this y'kno guys. 18 VC's now calling for fresh talks. Just need to keep everybody solid.

I strongly suspect that these calls for talks are just a feint, intended to split the movement. So it'll have to continue until next week, at least.

 

[Idris2002]

I don't know what they do to the enemy, but by god they frighten me:

 

[SpackleFrog]

I strongly suspect that these calls for talks are just a feint, intended to split the movement. So it'll have to continue until next week, at least.

Definitely - they want to stop the strike without really conceding much. Can't stop the strikes now. We should push for picket lines to be even stronger on monday because of this meeting called Tuesday and my branch is gonna call a second local demo - had 4 or 5 hundred members and students on the one yesterday

 

[SpackleFrog]

I don't know what they do to the enemy, but by god they frighten me:

God help us all!

 

[redsquirrel]

I don't know what they do to the enemy, but by god they frighten me:
<snip>

WTF even is that?