UCU HE Committee decided yesterday that as the employers are prepared to talk about their proposals to change the USS pension scheme, the assessment boycott will be suspended until January 16th.

Harriet Bradley, who attended yesterday’s HE  Committee meeting , will speak to a meeting of members in Bath on Monday 24th November 1.15 pm in 6E2.1.  Read Harriet’s report here.

Thanks to all members who have supported this action since 6th November.  It is only through your action that we have prevented the employers from forcing through the changes they want to make to the USS pension scheme.

Another report from yesterday’s meeting  suggests that while our negotiators may be prepared to hear what the employers have to say over the next six weeks, the employers have so far made no significant concessions on their proposals to change the USS pension scheme.

“The dispute is not over.    Indeed it was emphasised by everyone that we needed to be prepared to take hard-hitting action in January.  The employers have not retreated from their deficit estimates and ‘de-risking’ strategy.  We have a substantial political job to do in Senates, Academic Boards etc to put pressure on our own employers to challenge the proposals.”  (Sean Wallis UCL).

Monday’s branch meeting will consider a call for a special HE Sector Conference in January for delegates from ALL 69 pre-1992 universities involved in the USS dispute

Pay docking

HR have informed us that

“in accordance with the agreement reached nationally, we will not be withholding pay for breach of contract in respect of any individuals who participated in the action short of a strike between 6 and 19 November 2014 on the condition that those individuals make up all work missed in a reasonable period of time.”

The University has been informed of the suspension of the boycott so you do not need to contact HR.