This motion was carried at a branch general meeting 25 January 2024

This branch notes

• The USS joint negotiating committee confirmed in December that monthly USS pension contributions will be reduced from 9.8% to 6.1%, taking effect in January 2024
• USS members will have more money in their payslips each month as well as see an increase in pension benefits from April 2024
• This achievement is the result of significant and sustained industrial action and negotiations over a period of several years
• Many UCU members were supported to participate in this industrial action by the branch’s hardship fund

This branch believes

• The hardship fund is an important resource to ensure members do not face financial hardship as a result of participating in industrial action
• The hardship fund needs to remain in good health in order to enable members to take industrial action in the future
• If each member of UCU who has a USS pension contributed a small regular donation (of an amount of their choosing) to the hardship fund, it would enable the branch to rebuild and maintain the fund in preparation for future industrial action

This branch resolves

• To encourage UCU members, and USS members who are not in UCU, to set up a standing order to contribute a small amount of the money each month to the branch’s hardship fund, using the savings from reduced USS contributions.