UCU strike action forces concessions but not enough – Keep the action on

Striking UCU members will have many questions arising from the joint statement between the union and the employers that a deal to end the strike action is being agreed. These questions include:

• Why did the union leadership issue a joint statement with the employers before today’s planned union meeting and before the members have had a chance to consider the proposals?
• Why has the union instructed members to re timetable lectures?
• Why haven’t we been given the detail of how much per month will an extra 0.7% contribution rate cost us per month
• Why haven’t we been told how much we will lose by the decrease in accrual rate?
• Why are the union agreeing to a review that accepts the outcome must include the cdc scheme being used instead of defined benefit?

The employers offer to take their initial proposal off the table for three years is a significant climb down and is as a direct result of the result of strike action. But before we decide if it is enough to call of the action we need the full details as to what it exactly means for members.

No agreement without members say so

Given that there was a planned national representatives meeting taking place today why did our leadership issue a joint statement with employers effectively supporting the proposals before any discussion with the members? Why have we been issued with an instruction to re timetable lectures? This was a mistake and it risks demobilising members and losing the momentum we have built up with the strike so far.

There is talk that the leadership will put the offer to an online vote. This must be rejected and instead there must be local meetings where the offer can be fully debated and voted on.

The three-year review should be with no pre conditions and union oversight

Whilst UCU members might agree to an independent review as long as the union has equal oversight, this should be done with no pre-set conditions or outcome. Unfortunately, the employers are proposing in advance of the review that we must end up having to accept the CDC scheme, this is not acceptable.

How much will the increase in contribution rate by 0.7% cost us?

Before deciding why and if any concession should be given to the employer members have a right to know how much it will cost them. We need the employer to give a break down on each pay point of how much more they would have to pay. Given that members have has little or no pay rises for years any further pay cut will hit members hard.

What will the change in accrual really mean in lost pension?

Part of the proposed “transitional offer” is to reduce the accrual rate to 1/85th, what does that mean in real money for members how much

Pension will members lose with this change on each pay point? We need this information before we can decide that any proposal is acceptable.

This offer should be rejected. UUK are raising the deficit but we should demand that the Government underwrite the scheme. The planned strike action should be continued and escalated – linking up with fellow university unions and students and our UCU members in FE who are taking action on pay.