Lecturers' union set for action over planned pension cuts

THE threat of union action came a step closer yesterday as university and college lecturers were asked to back a campaign against proposed pension cuts.

Tens of thousands of members of the University and College Union (UCU) are being asked if they will support action against proposed changes to their pension scheme.

The union argues that these changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) are "unacceptable" and will leave members out of pocket.

A typical new starter lecturer could lose 127,000 in total if made to take a careers average pension scheme instead of the final salary scheme in place for current staff, UCU claimed.

A consultative ballot of members who pay into the scheme – understood to be around 50,000 people – opened yesterday, with the results due to be announced at the UCU's annual congress at the end of the month.

The union said it "cannot rule out the possibility of industrial action should the employers try to force changes to the pension scheme".

UCU has said it accepts some changes are needed to ensure the future of the USS fund, and protect members' benefits.

But a spokesman added the union was "annoyed" that its attempts to put forward proposals to protect the scheme have been rejected.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt said: "Our members have long seen pension as deferred pay and an important part of their remuneration package.

"Universities have been warned what changing the scheme would do for recruitment and retention of staff and have accepted that the decent pension scheme is some compensation for comparatively low pay.

"We do not accept the argument that because pension schemes have taken a bit of a battering elsewhere that we should join a race to the bottom."