Warwick

Following the record vote in favour of action to defend the USS pension scheme, UCU members will start a boycott of all assessment related work from Thursday 6th November. There will be a weekly meeting of the local USS action committee, with the first meeting on Wednesday 5th November 1.30 in 1E2.4.

UCU has produced guidance and FAQ for members, and a briefing note that you can pass on to students .   If you need help setting up a departmental meeting or with any other aspect of the assessment boycott, please contact one of the branch officers or reps.

Employers are divided on the proposals to wreck USS.  Some such as Oxford and Warwick have either expressed opposition or say they need more information.  Others such as York have taken an aggressive stance by threatening to dock 100% of pay from anyone who takes part in the assessment boycott.  You can support our York members by signing this open letter to the York VC.

UCU members will start a national assessment boycott on Thursday 6th November following a massive vote for action to defend pensions. 78% of members who voted, voted for strike action and 87% voted for action short of a strike. The turnout of 45% was the highest in a national higher education ballot since UCU was formed in 2006.

Bath UCU members will meet on THURSDAY 30th OCTOBER 1.15 pm in 3E2.4 to hear more about what we are being asked to do as part of an assessment boycott and to make sure it has maximum impact in the hope of bringing the dispute to an early conclusion. If members are in any doubt about the threat to pensions represented by the proposed changes, please note the following extract from the paper submitted by the employers to last week’s meeting of the USS Joint Negotiating Committee:

“It will be noted that in looking at their Tests, the Trustees take no account of any Defined Contribution benefits that are introduced. These pose no obligation risk on the employers – in effect, risk is borne fully by members. As such, the Trustees exhibit a marked preference for DC benefits over DB benefits.”

Keep up to date with developments at the national UCU pages