Broadcast: News items

Vice-Chancellor David Maguire

Today (19 November) the Vice-Chancellor David Maguire wrote to all staff. You can read the email in full below:

Dear colleague,

We have received notification from the University and College Union (UCU) that Sussex is one of the universities where its members have voted in favour of industrial action over pensions and pay and working conditions.
 
UCU have announced that 58 universities - including Sussex - will face industrial action in respect of the disputes on pay and conditions, on pensions or on both. They are asking their members to take three days of strike action from Wednesday 1 December, along with a longer period of action short of a strike (known as ASOS).
 
While we understand that no-one embarks on industrial action lightly this is very a disappointing outcome for our students, the University, and the sector as a whole. 
 
It’s a particular shame that this action will impact students at Sussex when conversations and solutions can only take place on a national scale. This dispute is complex and I understand the passionate desire to retain pensions benefits. However, because we are all living longer and financial investments are not provided the returns needed, the pension has become unaffordable for employers and employees. There is no escaping this truth.

I don’t believe this industrial action, at a minority of universities, will change the USS Trustee and The Pension Regulator’s insistence on long-term reform. I note and welcome UUK’s recommitment this week to consult employers on any viable, affordable and implementable alternative proposal from the UCU and to continuing talks to develop a joint approach to the future of the pension scheme.

Our focus at Sussex will be on minimising the impact on our students, who have already experienced significant turbulence, particularly to their education, in recent times.
 
Why is the industrial action happening?
These are long-running disputes. Earlier this month UCU members backed strike action in two separate ballots, one over changes to the USS pension scheme and one over pay and conditions.

This is after employers in USS, including the University of Sussex, agreed to make even stronger promises to the pension scheme to provide defined benefit pensions at affordable levels for scheme members and employers. 

Pay is negotiated at a national level and we were happy to support the pay uplift for staff that was implemented in August. Improving the work environment for all staff is something we care about deeply – and a number of projects are underway to improve the various issues that contribute to this. However, we have finite resources, and we have to be able to balance delivering an education and experience for our students with the income we receive, which largely comes from tuition fees.

What options are available?
We very much hope that national agreements can be reached but the circumstances are very challenging. University representatives Universities UK and UCEA have both expressed their commitment to continued dialogue with UCU and, in particular, for them to come forward with any viable and implementable alternatives. On USS, no such alternative has been tabled and strike action must be seen in this light. It is important to note that any alternative would have to satisfy The Pensions Regulator, which is an added complication. However, the door has always remained open.

USS, in both its current and proposed future form, is one of the very best pension schemes in the country and we are committed to sustaining it in a modified form for current and new staff. Increasing costs are leading to many opting out and addressing this has to be a serious consideration. Now is the time to come together to find a lasting resolution that ensures a good pension remains within the reach of all eligible staff.

What next?
Our focus has been, and will continue to be, minimising the disruption to our students and their learning outcomes. 

We are providing a wide range of information to students, including what they can expect during the industrial action, and making them aware of the information available on the Student Hub. It would be very helpful if you are asked for information from a student to direct them to the Student Hub, as we aim to contain advice in this one place as much as possible. 
 
Alongside our commitment to our students, the welfare of our staff is also very important and we must provide the space for different views and decisions, while maintaining a culture of dignity and respect.

We will soon be sharing further information and guidance for you on a set of Industrial Action webpages.

With best wishes,

David Maguire
Interim Vice-Chancellor