The national USS Joint Negotiating Committee, which includes the University and College Union (UCU) and employer representatives, confirmed the final changes to the USS pension scheme at its meeting on 10 May 2011, following consultation with USS members at the end of 2010 on the revisions which aim to ensure that USS remains a sustainable and attractive pension scheme. These changes incorporate the concessions made by employers on the transitional period given to deferred members rejoining the scheme and promotions from support staff schemes. The draft amending deed executing the final proposal was submitted to the USS Trustee Board on 9 June 2011, and was approved with consequent changes being implemented with effect from 1 October 2011. Further information on the confirmed amendments can be found here.
UCU continue to be discontent with the amendments to the USS pension scheme and at their recent Congress meeting decided to hold a fresh ballot in Pre-92 Higher Education Institutions for ‘a programme of sustained and disruptive industrial action targeting such areas as admissions, assessments and examinations’ for the next academic year. It is their intention to ballot members from 20 June to 14 September.
Staff will be kept informed of developments. Questions on the implications of the ballot for industrial action should be sent to Louise Lindsay, Director of HR.