University staff members took to the picket lines across Streatham and Penryn today to protest against freefalling working conditions and changes to their pension benefits. The University and Colleges Union (UCU), the largest Higher Education union in the world, have announced eight days of industrial action that will run from 25 November to 4 December. […]
pensions
Ontario Government threatens salaries of senior professors
The Ontario Government, headed by Doug Ford, has threatened to take away the salaries of senior university professors, amongst other proposals outlined in its April budget. Federal law dictates that anybody over the age of 71 must take their pension, however, Ford’s new proposals would prevent academics from collecting a salary and a pension at […]
University apologises to lecturer after providing incomplete pensions advice
The University has apologised to a lecturer after failing to provide clear information about staff pensions. Dr Katherine Newstead, who is disabled, started lecturing as an English & Film Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PTA) in January. On 2 April, Dr. Newstead took to Twitter to complain about her difficulties exiting the University’s pension scheme, citing discrimination. […]
USS engaging in new pensions consultation
Discussion began on 2 January about a new valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), a pension scheme for university staff. USS are indicating that they are not seeking to implement the recommendations of the Joint Expert Panel (JEP), which was set up by Universities’ UK (UUK) and the University and College Union (UCU) and […]