This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/education-13580804

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Lecturers' action 'may target exams and admissions' Lecturers back ballot on exams action in pensions row
(about 2 hours later)
UCU lecturers' union leader Sally Hunt has said industrial action targeting examination and admissions work is necessary to fight pensions changes. Members of the UCU lecturers' union have voted for a ballot on industrial action targeting university exams and admissions in a row over pensions.
Staff could "withdraw labour" to delay entry offers to students and the process of awarding degrees, she said. Delegates at the UCU annual congress backed a motion calling for a ballot on "a major programme of sustained and disruptive industrial action".
Union members meeting this weekend are expected to vote on whether to hold a ballot for further action. It says pensions changes will leave new staff up to £120,000 worse off.
University employers say the less generous pension schemes are a response to rising costs as people live longer. University employers say the scheme alterations are needed as costs rise because people are living longer.
The University and College Union says new staff will be up to £120,000 worse off under a planned career average pension scheme, and is fighting changes to pensions entitlements for staff over the age of 55 who are made redundant. The union lost a vote on the changes at the University Superannuation Scheme (USS) negotiating committee in May.
The union lost a vote on the changes at the University Superannuation Scheme's negotiating committee in May, after holding strikes in March. It is fighting against a shift to a career average scheme for new entrants, as well as changes to pensions entitlements for staff over the age of 55 who are made redundant.
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". The union has already held strikes on the issue, and a ballot was not technically necessary.
But a spokesman said it was important to consult members and check that there was appetite for serious and sustained action.
Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU - full name: the University and College Union - told the BBC earlier that staff may "withdraw labour" to delay the process of awarding degrees and making offers to prospective students.
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. Action could be focused on tasks such as marking and external examination, as well as targeting the work of vetting applications for university places, she said.
Action targeting the awarding of degrees could be focused on tasks such as marking and external examination, 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 back industrial action.
"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 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. The UCU's battle over the £30bn USS scheme, which is open to staff at universities founded before 1992 and 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.
Staff at further education colleges and new universities are eligible to join the Teachers' Pensions Scheme, rather than USS.
On Sunday, they are likely to consider joint action with teaching unions over possible changes to the scheme, UCU said.
Members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers are currently balloting their members for strike action.