Higher education pensions
But rising inflation means that the pension scheme’s recently reported funding position is likely to be over-optimistic, says Bill Galvin
Head of university employers’ body talks upcoming industrial action, cost-of-living crisis and future of collective bargaining
Only 17 per cent of those enrolled in UK’s largest higher education pension scheme reported positive relationship after changes to retirement benefits
In-depth look at scheme’s finances confirms deficit has shrunk since last valuation but ‘volatile market’ means benefits cannot be improved, yet.
Academics’ pension fund adds famous holiday camps to growing portfolio of assets as it seeks to shore up finances post-pandemic
Principal says institution not able to ‘take new students onto programmes where staff refuse to deliver the promised education’
Consultation opens into the terms, scope and structure of the review, which aims to identify ‘meaningful and implementable’ changes
Switch to aggregated voting means staff at 149 UK universities could walk out if union gets majority turnout and support
Universities urged to rule out taking advantage of planned redrawing of UK legislation
One-word responses such as ‘excellent’ and ‘perfect’ been given to those taking assessments
Those who earn less than £40,000 a year face losing about 30 per cent of the value of their pension, according to ‘first global analysis’
Local union branches secure major wins in long-running disputes but others left with nothing
Improved benefits or lower contributions could be possible if positive pension fund scheme performance continues
Union accuses employers of ‘needlessly aggressive and escalatory tactics’
UK higher education’s biggest pension fund clocks up second legal victory in a week
Universities seek to win over staff with bonuses and consider subcontracting assessment
Industrial action will no longer take place at several campuses over the summer
Warwick statistician drops employment tribunal case without settlement
Jane Hutton tells tribunal that months of her concerns being rebuffed forced her to become a whistleblower and disclose information to outside sources
Academics at 44 institutions to refuse to mark work or set exams in midst of busy summer assessment period, in ongoing row over pay and pensions
UCU pushes on with shrinking rounds of strike action despite calls to regroup and rethink
University and union branch offer ‘exit strategy’ as further walkouts prepared in long-running dispute
Disruption will hit summer assessment period, but employers call on unions to ‘move on’
Universities UK says contributions could be cut or benefits increased as USS finances bounce back after pandemic, but unions want reforms to be cancelled now
Hundreds of academics refuse to take part in system as part of ongoing industrial action, prompting institutions to draw up contingency plans
Universities’ oligarchic control of degree provision and metrics’ misguided focus are shortchanging both students and academics, says Murdoch Gabbay
Sunny start to the latest round of UK industrial action couldn’t mask the frustrations felt by many union members
Union leaders insist support for further strikes is strong but new pressures may harden university leaders’ resolve, experts warn
Union announces new ballot as disputes over pay and pensions remain unresolved
University and College Union members will again walk out over pay, pensions and working conditions
University refuses to pay staff who have returned to work until they reschedule lectures lost to last round of walkouts
Unless pay and conditions improve at UK universities, quality and diversity will enter a downward spiral, says Maria Sobolewska
Dispute over future of Universities Superannuation Scheme far from over, says union
Tone of threats ‘of a different calibre than before’ says examiner who left her QMUL post
Improving deficit of Universities Superannuation Scheme post-pandemic strengthens case for further valuation, says union
UCU claims ‘huge’ support but employers’ association reports ‘low levels’ of disruption
Universities legally entitled to make deductions, but UCU attacks ‘unfair and unprofessional response’
More than 1 million students on 68 campuses to be affected, as union splits walkouts by dispute
As more strikes loom, UCU believes fresh assessment of pension fund would show employers’ justification for cuts has ‘evaporated’
Union faces divisions internally as well as impasse with vice-chancellors in negotiations
Further walkouts expected in disputes over pay, pensions and working conditions
Unhappiness over guidance on rearranging classes affected by industrial action may force a rethink
Amid another round of strikes, the pension scheme chair’s assertion that changes are unavoidable cannot stand unchallenged, says Neil Davies
Undergraduates and postgraduates express sympathy for lecturers who have also struggled with shift online during pandemic
Intellectual property rights are likely to rest with lecturers despite university ownership claims, say legal experts
The latest USS valuation may have been conducted amid crashing markets, but there is no escaping the need for changes, says Kate Barker
UCU to reballot 42 branches that narrowly missed turnout threshold
Staff at 58 universities set to walk out
University and College Union general secretary says sector leaders who focused on turnout were ‘not listening to a consistent message that staff have been delivering to them’
Experts say exhaustion and worry over disruption to students hit appetite for industrial action but shouldn’t mask the unhappiness across sector
Inequality, Covid exhaustion, sympathy for students, fear of public opinion and frustration with UCU tactics are all factors, says Glen O’Hara
Combined with results of pensions ballot, union has mandate for walkouts at less than four in 10 institutions polled
Barely half of campuses pass 50 per cent voting threshold required for walkouts to go ahead
Union urges education secretary to intervene on student loan changes and to press university bosses into talking on disputes
UCU leader Jo Grady claims action is needed as ‘staff at breaking point’ but employers say latest 1.5 per cent pay offer is ‘fair and meaningful’
Union members at 152 UK institutions asked to walk out for fourth time in little over three years
Walkouts expected as government decides on English reforms in wake of Covid disruption
Fund’s embrace of employer-led reforms averts massive hikes in contributions
Employer representatives on joint negotiating committee push through Universities UK proposal with chair’s backing
Ending automatic inflationary increases in benefits should keep contributions below 30 per cent of salary, says joint statement
