UNISON members at universities across the UK have narrowly voted to accept employers’ proposals to end a dispute over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme pension scheme.
The union’s higher education service group executive agreed this morning to call off a planned ballot for industrial action, following the vote which saw 52% of members accept the proposals from Universities UK in an above-average turn-out.
The consultation of 1,300 members took place over Easter.
However, UNISON head of higher education Donna Rowe-Marriman said the dispute highlighted “much of what is wrong with higher education”.
She added that “poor governance had led to poor decision making” which, if left unchallenged would have led to “our members becoming poor pensioners”.
For the future, said Ms Rowe-Merriman, “UNISON will be seeking improvements in engagement on any future decisions that affect our USS members.”
The University and College Union has also announced that its members have voted to accept the deal.
