Pensions motions passed at Branch meeting 12/11/2014

These two motions were passed at yesterday's well-attended branch meeting. The first motion was passed with one abstention while the second motion was passed unanimously.

1. SOAS UCU pensions motion

Branch meeting 12/11/2014

SOAS UCU notes that:

1) That USS have proposed reforms to pensions benefits that are severely detrimental to employees.

2) UCU negotiators have tabled a counter proposal to the employers and USS on proposed changes to the USS pension scheme.

3) This counter proposal abandons a number of positions previously held by the UCU, including the need to challenge the basis for cuts to pensions (the flawed valuation methodology used by USS) and the aim of achieving parity with the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

4) In response to the assessment boycott a number of universities have decided to take the disproportionate and intimidating approach of announcing 100% pay docking for union members.

5) UCU policy states that “members should be informed that should an employer implement punitive deductions this will result in a national response and the calling of national strike action”.

SOAS UCU believes that our negotiators must stick to the following principles:

1) That the funding requirements and valuation methodology for USS should be challenged, not just in the abstract but concretely as part of negotiations.

2) That the scheme should remain entirely Defined Benefit, with no hybrid scheme and no cap, thus maintaining the principle of risk sharing. 

3) That pensions are our deferred pay and they should be increased, not cut. This may mean higher employer contributions and higher accrual rates.

4) That we need to return to a single scheme. This should be done by merging the current CRB and FS schemes into a new scheme that achieves parity with the Teachers' Pension Scheme by introducing graduated contributions for the higher paid.

SOAS UCU calls:

1) For UCU negotiators to withdraw their counter proposal on pensions until strategy in this dispute has been reviewed and the results of industrial action can be evaluated, preferably by a special HE sector conference of the union.

2) For all members at SOAS to observe the assessment boycott and build solidarity for universities where members are being threatened with pay docking.

3) For all staff to provide support for fractional staff who will be crucial to the implementation of the boycott at SOAS.

4) For the UCU to carry out its stated policy and call national strike action in response to 100% pay docking.

2. Motion on a special HE sector conference

Branch meeting 12/11/2014

This UCU branch supports the call for the requisition of a Special HE Sector Confernce to debate the campaigns to defend pensions in HE, and to defend the capacity of the UCU to call industrial action short of a strike as part of those campaigns.

SOAS UCU model letter to students explaining the assessment boycott

Dear students,

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) – your lecturers, teachers and support staff - have begun (from 6/11/2014) a comprehensive boycott of all setting and marking. This is due to the fact that our employers, 

i.e. UK Universities, are implementing changes severely affecting our pensions. The boycott will continue across UK Universities - not only SOAS - until a resolution to the pensions dispute is reached.

The boycott will apply to any form of assessment, including essay marking, the award or classification of any degree, certificate, diploma or any other academic or professional qualification, and the progression from one stage of study to the next (for example from an MPhil to PhD).  UCU members will carry out all other duties – like teaching classes, giving lectures, seeing students during office hours – as normal.

Regrettably, unless the dispute is resolved, the boycott is very likely to impact on your studies. UCU is not taking this action lightly. UCU members don’t want to take any action that damages the interests of students, but your lecturers, teachers and support staff deserve the right to a fair and decent pension.

The University employers body (UUK)* is carrying out changes which will significantly and permanently impact upon pensions. The changes will imply the loss of thousands of pounds every year; they will make pensions worse than those of colleagues in ‘New’ Universities (which apply the Teachers’ Pension Scheme), and will potentially lead to serious problems in recruiting and retaining the best staff.

Employers argue that the changes are necessary, as current pensions are not sustainable considering the deficit made by the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). UCU financial experts strongly contest these claims. Since 2011, the fund’s investments have grown by £8bn and the returns on these investments have outperformed average earnings and inflation. Last year, the fund’s highest paid employee received a pay increase of 50% (to £900k) in reward for ‘sustained performance’. You can read more about the dispute and UCU position here:
http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/files/2011/09/ucu_ussaction_studentbriefing.pdf

You can read on SOAS UCU position at
http://soasucu.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/soas-ucu-response-on-proposed-uss.html

I know that you may find this email upsetting, as you joined this institution expecting high quality teaching and contact time, and also timely assessment. Like you, UCU members also want a speedy resolution of this dispute. The employers’ body (UUK) could end it today if they wanted to, because the pension scheme is sustainable and
that the option is there for a fair settlement. UCU members regret the impact that the boycott may have on you, but feel they cannot sit back and watch as pensions and future security are attacked.

You are not powerless in all of this. You can make your voice heard by emailing Paul Webley SOAS Director and Principal (pw2@soas.ac.uk), and calling on him to press their national negotiators to produce a fair and sustainable proposal.

Thanks for your understanding and support.

All the best,