Against a backdrop of unprecedented uncertainty and financial pressure, the role of university boards and councils has to be to ensure the long-term sustainability of their institutions
Committee of University Chairs Statement on USS Pensions Dispute
Commenting on the current dispute between the University and College Union and university employers over the Universities Superannuation Scheme [USS], Chris Sayers, the Chairman of the Committee of University Chairs [CUC], said:
“University staff are at the heart of the sector’s teaching and research success and CUC fully supports this being recognised and reflected through their employment packages. Pensions in USS are excellent, but the scheme has to remain affordable in order for institutions to balance their investment in people with the wider university environment.
“Against a backdrop of unprecedented uncertainty and financial pressure, the role of university boards and councils has to be to ensure the long-term sustainability of their institutions, and therefore they have to balance the investment they want to make in people against all the other calls on their resources. To protect current benefits for members in full, employers are paying 65p in every pound of the increased costs, an extra £250 million per year. Universities have fixed levels of income and many are already having to divert significant sums of money from other budgets to meet the rapidly increasing demands of USS. This is raising real concerns about the potential consequences for jobs, teaching, and student support, and demands to further increase employer contributions could lead to cuts to courses, research and to larger class sizes. We don’t want to see this happen.
“CUC will strongly support a long-term solution which provides fair pension provision across the sector with costs being stable, attractive and affordable to both scheme employers and employees.”
The CUC is the representative body for the Chairs of UK universities governing bodies. It delivers education, learning and development opportunities to its members by providing a peer-support network which promotes high standards in university governance.
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