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Union claims end to strikes is in sight, but USS questions seriousness of proposals
An agreement to end strike action over pay, conditions and pensions is “in reach”, according to University and College Union leader Jo Grady.
In an update for members published on 5 March, Grady said negotiations between the union and employers over both the Universities Superannuation Scheme and the so-called “four fights” row were “at a pivotal moment”.
Staff are on strike at 74 universities across the UK for 14 days. The row over the USS centres around how much staff or employers should pay for increased contributions to the pension scheme, while the four fights dispute covers casualisation, workload, equality and pay.
Grady said the union had “extended an olive branch to employers” by offering to compromise on the root causes of the strikes. The UCU met with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which is negotiating with the union in the four fights dispute, on 3 March; and vice-chancellors’ body Universities UK, which negotiates on the USS dispute, on 4 March.
On the issue of pay, the union had initially asked for a pay rise of 3 per cent plus RPI, which would bring the total pay lift to more than 5 per cent for members. Ucea has offered a pay rise of 1.8 per cent, and made concessions on the workplace issues during the dispute.
Grady said the UCU had offered to accept a reduced increase of 3 per cent, and added that Ucea had been “receptive in principle to many of the additions and amendments which we have asked them to make to their offer”.
A spokesman for Ucea said: “There has been no change on the pay offer, but talks remain ongoing.”
On the USS dispute, Grady said the union had offered to accept a member contribution rate of 8.4 per cent, representing a break from the union’s “no detriment” position. The UCU had initially refused to accept any higher than 8 per cent of salary for staff, which is the level staff paid into the pension scheme before the 2017 valuation found a multi-billion pound deficit in the scheme.
However a spokesperson for USS employers said the group—made up of UUK representatives—“do not see this proposal as a serious move from UCU to find common ground”.
The spokesperson added: “It is very clear from our consultation with employers that an another rise of 1.2 per cent of salaries, in addition to the increase that employers have made from 18 per cent to 21.1 per cent is not affordable for the vast majority.
“The new UCU proposal also includes further conditions, not published on their website, that are wholly unacceptable to employers. We are continuing further talks with UCU and would be willing to consult employers on a reasonable and fair proposal to resolve the dispute.”
Before the first wave of strike action this academic year took place in November and December, UUK had offered a contribution level for staff of 9.2 per cent in return for not balloting members on strike action, but this was rejected by the union.
“We are willing to be flexible, but we have to draw a red line somewhere. We need employers to pay more, not just to help staff who find USS too expensive, but also because it’s employers who should face the financial consequences if they fail to exert enough pressure to change USS’s position,” said Grady.
UUK has been contacted for comment.