Northumbria staff back strike action over pensions changes

Union members at Northumbria University have backed plans to strike over controversial changes to pay and pensions.

Staff at the north-east institution have claimed they feel “pressured” to give up their participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) in favour of joining the cheaper Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

Northumbria has offered employees a deal to switch from TPS, which has an employer contribution rate of 28.68 per cent, in order to save the institution money.

Last year the university said staff who are willing to move will receive a one-off payment of between £5,800 and £10,000 and see their pay increase in line with nationally agreed uplifts in the years ahead.

But it has also warned staff who do not move that they will not get the pay increases until such a time as their overall remuneration packet is equalised with those of colleagues in the USS, which has an employer rate of 14.5 per cent.

The University and College Union (UCU) branch previously accused Northumbria of “ripping staff off” with the move, and now union members have voted in favour of strike action. A ballot held by the union saw a turnout of 60 per cent, with 80 per cent of those participating voting in favour of action. 

Over 1,000 people have signed a petition calling on the university to rethink the plans, and MPs have raised concerns and tabled a motion in Parliament to discuss the matter. The north-east mayor and local councillors have written to the university offering support to staff and calling on the institution to reconsider its plans. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said staff are “rightly furious about this attack on their retirement security”. 

“Northumbria University staff work hard, achieve great things for students and the wider community and deserve better than this,” Grady said.

“Staff should not have to choose between their pay and pension. Management needs to rethink its plans and work with us to find a solution that avoids reputational damage and sustained, widespread disruption in every aspect of its activities, from teaching to research.”

This week also saw staff at the University of Essex announce they will undergo strike action, following plans to cut up to 400 jobs from the institution, in a sign of renewed industrial unrest.

A spokesperson for Northumbria University said that it had “engaged in open and transparent communications with our colleagues about the need to address the very high costs of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme over the last few months”.

They added that the university was “significantly financially disadvantaged” owing to the requirement it participate in the scheme, with additional costs of £11 million per year “at a time when university finances are under unprecedented pressure”.

“All academic staff have the option of switching to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, which, like the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, is a defined benefit pension scheme based on career average salary for the majority of staff. Where TPS members choose to move to USS we have agreed to share some of the cost saving with them.”

The spokesperson said staff had been provided with “extensive support” to consider their options.

“We are committed to continuing constructive discussions with UCU and we will work to ensure that our students are not disadvantaged as a result of their decision,” they added.

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com