BREAKING: Strike action confirmed at Warwick

Strikes at 61 British universities, including Warwick, have been confirmed after University and Colleges Union (UCU) members voted overwhelmingly for strike action over changes to the USS pensions scheme.

Talks between the UCU and Universities UK (UUK) concluded Tuesday 23 January without any compromise when the USS negotiating committee sided with the employers.

The ballot sent out to UCU members opened in November and closed last Friday 19 January. On 22 January, it was reported that 61 out of the 68 universities polled had voted to strike.

The other seven universities saw the majority of votes cast backed a strike, but turnout was not high enough for the vote to count because of the Trade Union Act 2016, which prevents strikes which do not achieve 50% turnout.

On 29 January, the UCU confirmed that a series of escalating strikes will start on Thursday 22 February. Strike action will begin with a five day walkout on either side of the weekend, then escalate to a four day strike in the third week and five day strike in the fifth week.

The seven universities who did not achieve a 50% turnout are being balloted again for action.

Staff are protesting changes to the USS pensions scheme which would see a change from a defined benefits scheme to a defined contributions scheme. This would mean that rather than being guaranteed a certain pension income, it would be determined from returns from the stock market.

Strike action will begin with a five day walkout on either side of the weekend, then escalate to a four day strike in the third week and five day strike in the fifth week

Universities UK defends this citing the £17.5bn deficit and the 30% increase in employer contributions in the last decade. Warwick UCU’s vice-president, Duncan Adam says they remain sceptical about the deficit, telling The Boar: “We would dispute the methodology used in the valuation [and] would dispute the existence of a deficit in the first place.”

Adam added that the changes to the USS scheme would damage staff recruitment – and thus the sector as a whole – in the long-term. He also explained that previous changes to staff pension saw a move from pensions reflecting what was earned at the end of a career to a career average.

Members have already taken a hit

It is estimated that the proposed changes could see pension income cut by up to 40%, or potentially £200,000 for some academics. UCU general secretary Sally Hunt calls this “levels of strike action not seen before on UK campuses”. While Duncan recognised that “in the short term, [the strike] creates disruption for students” he went on to explain that “the UCU is taking this action because it sees it as last resort to defend pensions. That might come across as a hard-line response from us but it reflects the gravity of the issue.”

The University’s vice-chancellor, Stuart Croft broke ranks to criticise the “increasingly conservative changes to the USS” in a published letter to Universities UK’s Chief Executive. Loughborough University and Warwick were the only institutions to criticise these changes. While Adam said the UCU supported Croft’s comments, he pointed out that: “The university has not [offered] to make up any shortfall, which is something that it could do and we have called on it to do.”

Emily Dunford, Warwick SU’s Postgraduate Officer, told The Boar:“The Students’ Union has a proud history of supporting staff in their fight for fair remuneration and working conditions.”

The seven Universities who did not achieve a 50% turnout are being balloted again for action

She further highlighted that “employment conditions for staff also have a direct impact on students’ learning environment. Warwick students will vote in the coming weeks as to whether the SU formally gives our support to the campaign for fair pensions.”

The formal procedure for students to have a voice on this issue will most likely be through a referendum on a motion, which will take place in Week 5 following the All Student Meeting on 5 February.”

UUK told the Financial Times that the strike ballot was “disappointing”, adding: “A solution to the significant funding challenges facing USS needs to be found.

“UUK’s priority is to put USS on a secure and sustainable footing while offering attractive, market-leading pensions – the very best that can be afforded by both employers and employees.”

They also stated that “the option of no reform is a dangerous gamble” and “a risk that employers cannot take”.