Shaping the USS pension negotiations

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Members of UCU University of Leeds branch proposed six motions to go to the UCU special conference about the USS pensions dispute, on 21 June. Members of the branch submitted and approved six motions and these have been amalgamated by the committee into two motions (because there is a limit of two per branch): Campaigning for DB pensions as the best social pension provision Conference notes: our successful industrial action defended the principle of Defined Benefit (DB) pensions, challenging political orthodoxy to accept DB pensions were “unaffordable”. the current government is weak widespread criticism of university leaders for their enrichment. pensions are deferred wages, thus increased employee pension contributions are a de facto pay cut. Labour Party policy has shifted from solely promoting Defined Contribution (DC) Pensions towards support for Defined Benefit pensions. Conference believes: the best social pension provision is DB Conference resolves: to campaign for DB pensions within and without the labour movement, launching via a national trade union conference on the future of pension provision in Britain, together with advocates of DB pension schemes. to work with all relevant political parties, calling them to advocate for collective provision of DB pensions, the public university and academic freedom. … continue reading

UCU members have ACCEPTED the latest offer from Universities UK

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From email sent to all members by branch president Vicky Blake at 3.14pm on Friday 13 April 2018

The result of the UCU members’ ballot over whether to accept the latest UUK proposal closed at 2pm. We have just heard the result from HQ: Accept

This means that our industrial action will be called off.  So no strike on Monday.

This was not the result that the branch EGM agreed to support, however we know that everyone gave the issue considerable thought before voting and we respect each other’s opinions. We need to keep our solidarity strong and carry on working well together. We have uploaded a Dinosaur of Solidarity image created by our very own Honorary Secretary Jonathan Saha for everyone to use on social media [here] – solidarity shared is strength and support increased!

We also need to watch UUK/USS very carefully so we can hold them to account.  There’s an interesting @USSbriefs just out on how to constitute a Joint Expert Panel.  We can discuss next steps at the General Meeting on Monday.

Remember: everyone is invited to come to the Library Pub from 5pm this evening!

Remember the General Meeting on Monday at 1pm, Quaker House

This is a really important meeting! Please do make every effort to attend. The updated agenda was sent out by email on 11/4/18 (23:05), and is also available online [here].

In Solidarity!

Vicky and Committee

PS

The results were as follows:

Yes to accept the UUK offer 21,683 (64%)
No to reject the UUK offer 12,230 (36%)

Total balloted: 53,415
Total votes cast: 33,973
Total number valid votes: 33,913
Turnout: 63.5%

Vote ‘No’ – this branch recommends members vote to reject the offer

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In a well attended emergency general meeting, members of UCU University of Leeds branch voted today to recommend that members vote ‘no’ in the new UCU ballot on the latest offer from Universities UK in the persions dispute. The branch also noted the valuable new USS Briefs, short articles by a range of academics on different aspects of the strike, and that an independent group of UCU members has devised a survey of members’ voting preferences, motivations, and other views surrounding the ballot. The branch resolved to encourage all USS members to complete the survey. After a thorough and collegial debate, considering a range of perspectives on the ballot and recognising the branch’s enthusiasm for a decisive conclusion to the current industrial action, members voted for the following motion: Leeds University UCU branch notes: the support and energy of our members during the course of the fourteen days of strike action in defence of our pensions. the branch delegates meeting (held on the 28th March at UCU HQ, London) on the USS dispute where last-minute evidence was tabled, on which delegates had no opportunity to consult their members. that, at the conclusion of the branch delegates meeting, no vote was … continue reading

Brief Delegate’s Report: Branch Delegates Meeting (USS pension dispute)

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Short report on pensions briefing meeting 11:00-14:00 extended to 14:20 on the 28/3/18 at UCU HQ Carlton Street. The meeting started with Sally Hunt (General Secretary) presenting new information in the for of a letter from UUK and a quote from a confidential letter sent from the Pensions Regulator (tPR).  She set out what she thought this new information did to the ‘place’ we now found ourselves.  Paul Bridge (UCU Head of Higher Education; negotiator) then spoke further to this. He also talked about how the ‘valuation panel’ might work. Floor opened to a lively questions session including: Q Why was this new information only put to us now. A this UUK letter only arrived this morning (28/3/18) and tPR and USS letter was confidential (note latter information has been now been circulated to all by Sally, and we had no indication as to when Sally first became aware of the information). Q how can we represent our members now that this new information is available? A taken as rhetorical After this Matt Waddop reported on the further action.  There were letters announcing the next round of strike action going out to employers during the day.  Action was to proceed. … continue reading

University of Leeds UCU EGM Minutes 27 March 2018

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Download the Word file here: 2018.03.27 EGM minutes Leeds UCU University of Leeds Local Association Emergency General Meeting Tuesday 27 March, 1pm – 2pm (but may overrun) Venue: Roger Stevens lecture theatre 21 Minutes   Motion 1 This branch welcomes the climbdown by UUK in removing its previous, unacceptable offer and instructs negotiators to seek more assurances from UUK before the new offer is put to all members. This branch notes that: the terms proposed by UUK for the formation of a Joint Expert Panel on the valuation of USS represents a welcome concession which is a tribute to the effectiveness of our strike action our negotiators must return to UUK to resolve the dispute on terms acceptable to our members. Leeds UCU calls on UCU negotiators to submit a counter-proposal to the UUK proposal of 23rd March. This would accept the proposal in principle but with the following amendments: that UUK, on behalf of the employers that they represent, agree that the status quo shall be extended beyond April 2019, should this prove necessary in order to complete the independent valuation, to complete any subsequent negotiations between the parties, and to conduct full consultations with all parties. that future valuations … continue reading