- Conference
- 2022 Virtual Higher Education Conference
- Date
- 13 October 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Conference condemns the ongoing attack on our defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. Pensions are deferred pay and any cut to our pension schemes is a direct attack on terms and conditions.
Conference notes the variety in pension schemes in the Higher Education section. Multi-institution, large scale schemes such as Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS), Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL) pension schemes exist alongside far smaller self-administered trust (SAT) schemes at individual universities.
Conferences notes that the variety of pension schemes is reflected in the variety of attacks on decent defined benefit pensions for members. There are currently detrimental changes proposed for USS, as well as proposals to reduce benefits for new joiners at SAUL. Many self-administered trust defined benefit schemes are now closed to new joiners or future accrual with inferior defined contribution schemes having taken their place. An increasing number of post-1992 universities are established wholly owned subsidiary companies as a way of avoiding paying for their lowest paid employees to enter into a decent defined benefits pension scheme.
Conference believes that despite the variety of schemes, the attacks are all part of a concerted effort to cut pension benefits for workers in Higher Education. We need to act to protect all of our members in Higher Education. Conference believes the way to have greatest success is by responding to these attacks as whole, linking local pensions disputes to national disputes, and fostering networks to allow cross branch and cross region support.
Conference believes that access to a decent defined benefit (DB) pension scheme is of the highest priority for our union and that Universities that are removing or amending these schemes are not acting in the best interests of staff or the long term interests of the universities.
Conference therefore calls upon the Service Group Executive to:
1)Survey all universities to understand what pension schemes are in place and identify where local attacks on pensions have taken place, are in progress or are threatened.
2)Develop an organising strategy and guidance that can be sent to branches to help argue and organise against any changes.
3)Develop a framework that will allow branches and regions to communicate, work together and support each other in organise against any changes.
4)Work with UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee and Legal Office to explore creative ways disputes can be lodged within the law, where there might be barriers to the normal process.
5)Work with UNISON Pensions unit to develop factsheets to help our members understand how our pensions work and why it is essential we retain access to decent pension schemes. This should include the need for member involvement with any campaign and can’t be driven by a branch committee alone.
6)Work with UNISON Labour Link to campaign for manifesto commitment from the Labour Party to support Defined Benefit pension schemes in Higher Education.