Strike action continues for UCU members

In December, Imperial College employees went on strike over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension scheme after 71.7% of Imperial University and College Union (UCU) members voted in favour of strike action and 86.3% voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike.

The USS’s Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) decided on changes to the pension scheme, and stated on their website: “the proposed changes by the UCU were not submitted” to them as of 31st August. UCU will now meet with employer representatives from UUK this Friday, 11th February, to discuss revoking the cuts to staff pensions and to formally accept the UCU’s counter proposal.

According to the UCU, USS consultations found that employees would not mind increased pension contributions if the increases were matched by employers. The UCU will describe planned action they will be taking through a recorded online event at 5pm on Friday the 11th of February. The changes will come into effect on 1st April 2022.

Depending on the outcome of the meeting, the UCU is calling on its members to be prepared for a three week nationwide strike over USS pension changes, pay and pension, and working conditions. Imperial College UCU members have previously only voted to go on strike over changes to the USS pension scheme, and will participate in the first week, that is, 14th February to 18th February. Additionally, they will also strike on 21st and 22nd February, dates which coincide with UCU strikes over pay and working conditions. The NUS has called for a strike by students on 2nd March in support of university staff who would be striking over pay and working conditions, but this issue does not impact Imperial staff. If the issues remain unresolved, the UCU may hold a marking and assessment boycott, followed by a referendum to extend their six month industrial action mandate beyond its expiration at the beginning of May.