USS strikes

In letter to vice-chancellors, Universities UK says it is ‘disappointed’ sector’s biggest pension fund will not conduct a review of controversial valuation

Universities UK raises concern about influence of regulator on fund’s valuation, while indicating possible reforms to benefits

‘Unaffordable’ contribution increases proposed by Universities Superannuation Scheme mean member benefits may be up for debate once more

Universities UK says increases are unaffordable for employers and risk pricing even more staff out of scheme

Vice-chancellors criticise level of contributions proposed by Universities Superannuation Scheme

Discussions about how the UK’s largest pension scheme covers its deficit ought to consider whether all employers and members should pay the same rate, argues Paul Hamilton

Universities call for members to have option to reduce their contributions in return for different benefits

Academics may wish we weren’t here, but burying heads in the sand about the depth of the deficit is no longer viable, says Bernard Casey

Pension scheme’s annual report shows relationship with members worsening amid ongoing dispute over contributions

UK higher education’s biggest pension fund says Covid-related uncertainty on financial markets added £7 billion to shortfall in space of two months

If universities don’t commit to underwriting a riskier investment strategy, pension contributions will have to rise sharply, says Bill Galvin

Money to be taken automatically from members’ bank accounts to support UK union’s strike fund

Universities’ divestment policies are undermined by the USS’ continued investment in oil companies, says Bill Spence 

Members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme are about to vote on whether to lock in current members. But this might not be enough to safeguard the scheme’s solvency, says Bernard Casey

Concerns raised over pension scheme’s ability to judge its health after virus crisis market plunge

Radical changes may be on cards after stock market crash and interest rate cuts, say experts

Some members increasingly wary after 22 days of walkouts already this year, but many remain determined to win concessions from employers on pay and pensions

New documents show that economic downturn from coronavirus could lead to increased contributions

Negotiators ‘within reach of agreements’ as union cuts demands on pay rises and pension contributions, says general secretary

Leaked summary of report into Jane Hutton’s conduct on USS board says speaking to media ‘by no means a proportionate response’ when regulators were still investigating concerns

Union and employers refuse to make further concessions as 14 days of industrial action continue at 74 universities

Staff vent frustration that employers haven’t recognised the bigger picture behind the walkouts

Universities decline to make fresh offers on pay and pensions as union prepares for second round of industrial action

UCU faces debate over whether to compromise on demands over pay, pensions and working conditions

Striking again would rob students of vital lecture time and damage the progress we’ve made through bargaining, says one anonymous UCU member

Walkouts to escalate over February and March

Total number of union branches eligible to strike this year reaches 74

Birmingham v-c to step down from pension fund board this August

UCU says that universities should focus on solving dispute ‘instead of trying to spin their way out of this’

UCU, employers and USS will discuss the ongoing pensions row, following series of recommendations from expert panel  

Strikes threaten to spill into the new year, as little progress made in dispute

Universities Superannuation Scheme cautions that making governance changes swiftly could be challenging

Strikes notwithstanding, more pay restraint and greater pensions contributions from UK staff seem unavoidable, writes Bernard Casey

Current approach is ‘overly restrictive’ and does ‘not appear appropriate for an open, strong scheme’

Ucea chair’s institution among those to decide against withholding salaries

Huge deficits emerge as universities start to publish 2018-19 accounts – but impact will be reversed next year

UCU says some universities are using ‘highly questionable tactics’ as strikes are set to enter their second week

Newcastle posts £44 million deficit after one-off USS charge, but sector’s results expected to rebound next year

Universities UK says some employees could ‘contribute less and get less benefit’ but academics say approach would ‘divide workers further’

Step comes as employers and union debate equality, casualisation and workload, without movement on pay offer

Thousands walk out, but universities say they expect ‘low to medium’ levels of disruption

After last year’s walkout over pensions, this year’s action is ‘part of something bigger’, say union members

Jo Grady says ‘a lot of’ university leaders want to strike a deal over contributions to Universities Superannuation Scheme

Anthony Forster criticises failure of negotiators to ‘embrace principled compromise’

V-c warns pension and pay strikes will damage whole sector but union members believe experience shows industrial action will force change

Staff will walk out at 60 universities starting from 25 November

About 1 million students set to be affected by walkout

MP calls for urgent investigation into dismissal of Jane Hutton as potential strike action nears

Warwick statistician Jane Hutton attacks lack of transparency over her dismissal from board of Universities Superannuation Scheme

Pension fund chair says Warwick statistician had ‘breached a number of her director’s duties’, but insists probe was ‘completely separate’ to investigation of her claims

Pension fund’s deficit is likely to be worse than feared rather than better, says Sir David Eastwood

Average members set to get £18,200 a year in retirement under latest changes, compared with £23,800 under pre-2011 scheme

UUK proposal calls for next month’s ballot to be cancelled in return for a 0.5 per cent increase in employer contributions to Universities Superannuation Scheme

Union brands inclusion of two-year bar on walkouts in compromise offer ‘ludicrous’

Joint negotiating committee says scheme members should contribute 9.6 per cent of their salaries, up from 8.8 per cent currently

Annual report shows increase in value of fund assets, but dispute over future contributions takes toll on contentment

Union sets out timetable for ballots over industrial action in relation to the pay and USS pension disputes

Jane Hutton says that pension fund is trying to deny her ‘whistleblower’ status

Academics may be asked not to apply for jobs, give lectures or conduct external examining at Trinity

Asking for higher contributions is painful but unavoidable in such uncertain times, says USS chair Sir David Eastwood