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Lecturers' action 'may target exams and admissions' Lecturers' action 'may target exams and admissions'
(about 4 hours later)
UCU lecturers' union leader Sally Hunt has said industrial action targeting examination and admissions work is necessary to fight pensions changes.UCU lecturers' union leader Sally Hunt has said industrial action targeting examination and admissions work is necessary to fight pensions changes.
Staff could "withdraw labour" to delay entry offers to students and the process of awarding degrees, she said.Staff could "withdraw labour" to delay entry offers to students and the process of awarding degrees, she said.
Union members meeting this weekend are expected to vote on whether to hold a ballot for further action.Union members meeting this weekend are expected to vote on whether to hold a ballot for further action.
The union says new staff will be £120,000 worse off under a planned career average pension scheme.The union says new staff will be £120,000 worse off under a planned career average pension scheme.
The University and College Union lost a vote on the changes at the University Superannuation Scheme's negotiating committee in May, after holding strikes in March.The University and College Union lost a vote on the changes at the University Superannuation Scheme's negotiating committee in May, after holding strikes in March.
A motion to be put to the conference, meeting in Harrogate, calls for "a major programme of sustained and disruptive industrial action targeting such areas as admissions, assessments and examinations for the next academic year".A motion to be put to the conference, meeting in Harrogate, calls for "a major programme of sustained and disruptive industrial action targeting such areas as admissions, assessments and examinations for the next academic year".
Ms Hunt told the BBC the proposal was for "action short of a strike".Ms Hunt told the BBC the proposal was for "action short of a strike".
"I don't believe that a one-day strike will make the difference here," she said."I don't believe that a one-day strike will make the difference here," she said.
"I think it will be serious and I think will have to be sustained... I think it's necessary if we're going to get the employers to shift.""I think it will be serious and I think will have to be sustained... I think it's necessary if we're going to get the employers to shift."
'Significant disruption''Significant disruption'
The process of vetting student applications and signing off offers "is something that we will look at very carefully in terms of whether there's action we will take to withdraw our labour," she said.The process of vetting student applications and signing off offers "is something that we will look at very carefully in terms of whether there's action we will take to withdraw our labour," she said.
Action targeting the awarding of degrees could be focused on tasks such as marking and external examination, she said.Action targeting the awarding of degrees could be focused on tasks such as marking and external examination, she said.
"There's a whole range of activity around people getting their qualifications or not, which is directly our members work and directly what we will be looking at," she said. "There's a whole range of activity around people getting their qualifications or not, which is directly our members' work and directly what we will be looking at," she said.
This year's finals are already taking place, so are unlikely to be targeted, but the union said "significant disruption" could occur from the autumn if members opted for industrial action.This year's finals are already taking place, so are unlikely to be targeted, but the union said "significant disruption" could occur from the autumn if members opted for industrial action.
This could affect students applying to start university in 2012, and UCU has not ruled out an impact on next year's finals.This could affect students applying to start university in 2012, and UCU has not ruled out an impact on next year's finals.
UCU's battle over the £30bn USS scheme, which has nearly 140,000 active members, has lasted several years.UCU's battle over the £30bn USS scheme, which has nearly 140,000 active members, has lasted several years.
The union has gained concessions, including the retention of a final salary scheme for existing members, but says the proposed scheme for new entrants is not generous enough.The union has gained concessions, including the retention of a final salary scheme for existing members, but says the proposed scheme for new entrants is not generous enough.
It also wants to retain the right to a full pension for lecturers over 55 who are made redundant, and fears final salary benefits will eventually be phased out.It also wants to retain the right to a full pension for lecturers over 55 who are made redundant, and fears final salary benefits will eventually be phased out.
Under the changes, which USS says are to come into effect in the autumn, contributions to the final salary scheme will rise from 6.35 to 7.5% of income, and the retirement age will increase from 60 to 65.Under the changes, which USS says are to come into effect in the autumn, contributions to the final salary scheme will rise from 6.35 to 7.5% of income, and the retirement age will increase from 60 to 65.
New entrants will be offered a career average scheme, under which they would contribute 6.5% of their income, and accrue 1/64 of their average income for every year worked.New entrants will be offered a career average scheme, under which they would contribute 6.5% of their income, and accrue 1/64 of their average income for every year worked.
'Attractive and affordable''Attractive and affordable'
UCU negotiators sit on a joint committee which makes decisions for the pension scheme.UCU negotiators sit on a joint committee which makes decisions for the pension scheme.
They had blocked the changes by refusing to attend meetings and make them quorate, until they were threatened with legal action - which they described as "bullying".They had blocked the changes by refusing to attend meetings and make them quorate, until they were threatened with legal action - which they described as "bullying".
In May, they attended the committee, and its chair, Sir Andrew Cubie, made the casting vote in favour of the changes.In May, they attended the committee, and its chair, Sir Andrew Cubie, made the casting vote in favour of the changes.
The Employers Pension Forum - which brings together higher education employers - has not commented on possible future industrial action.The Employers Pension Forum - which brings together higher education employers - has not commented on possible future industrial action.
But when the vote took place in May it said the "moderate changes" would "enable USS to remain sustainable, attractive and affordable for all: employers and members, current and future".But when the vote took place in May it said the "moderate changes" would "enable USS to remain sustainable, attractive and affordable for all: employers and members, current and future".
When UCU members held a strike in March, EPF chairman Professor Brian Cantor said employers were "disappointed" by the action.When UCU members held a strike in March, EPF chairman Professor Brian Cantor said employers were "disappointed" by the action.
He defended the changes as a "response to the increasing costs to the scheme from improved longevity".He defended the changes as a "response to the increasing costs to the scheme from improved longevity".
Prof Cantor said the retention of a final salary pension for all existing USS members was an exceptionally good benefit and that the career average scheme for future employees was in line with what looked set to become the norm in all sectors.Prof Cantor said the retention of a final salary pension for all existing USS members was an exceptionally good benefit and that the career average scheme for future employees was in line with what looked set to become the norm in all sectors.