University Staff Strikes
Posted 86 Months Ago
Why are the staff striking?
The short answer is because changes proposed to their pension scheme means staff will get less pension but must pay more for it. Under the current proposal a staff member could lose as much as £208,000 over their career!
The University Superannuation Scheme (USS), which is the pension scheme for most staff in our University, has a hole in the balance sheet, being only 89% funded.
Many pension schemes run at a deficit. To reduce the USS deficit (from 89% funded to 91%) it is proposed to remove the ‘defined benefit’ for staff. What will be put in place is a ‘defined contribution’ pension scheme. While the defined benefit gives staff a guaranteed level of income when they retire, the ‘defined contribution’ is much more dependent on market returns.
This means staff will get less pension, and will have to pay more for it, without a pay rise. This is an income reduction.
Many of our staff have families, mortgages, and other commitments. To enforce a poor deal on our staff is detrimental to our students. What staff member would be happy with a pay cut? A poorer pension? Does that motivate them? Does out support them to provide the best for our students?
The pension deal was put forward on behalf of the University by University’s United Kingdom (UUK), a body that represents Vice-Chancellors and Principals of Universities.
The staff strikes, organised by members of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) are about getting a better deal for our staff.
The strikes dates are as follows:
- Week one: 22-23 February
- Week two: 26-28 February
- Week three: 5-8 March
- Week four: 12-16 March
A Statement from the Student Union Executive:
We, the Student Union Executive, believe staff have a right to be fairly rewarded for their work for students and the University as a whole. We urge the University to lobby UUK to negotiate a better deal for our staff. We believe in quality teaching and research, as it is an integral part of the student experience, the core of what a University an academic institution. We believe that happy and supported staff help provide the best experience for students of our University.
You can support the staff by joining the picket line.
We urge the university to communicate with students on their efforts to avoid the strike, and support our students. We will negotiate changes to coursework deadline dates to ensure our students can continue in their studies, and to maintain the academic integrity of Heriot-Watt University.
If you want to show support for the staff, if you want to make your frustration heard about losing classes, or if you think that our staff deserve better, then please email Richard Williams, our Vice-Chancellor and Principal at r.a.williams@hw.ac.uk or James Richards, President of the local UCU branch at j.richards@hw.ac.uk, or tweet at https://twitter.com/UCU_HWUBranch and let them know your thoughts.
If you want to get involved, show your support by joining the picket line. Show that you support our staff by not crossing the picket line. This is a poor deal for our staff, and something better can be done.
If your studies have been seriously adversely affected then please get in touch with the Advice Hub at advice.hub@hw.ac.uk and they can support you through Mitigating Circumstances forms.
