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Unions protest at university
final salary pensions plans
Members of Unite and Unison protesting outside Firth Court at Sheffield University over proposals to cut pensions for the lower-paid workers. Hazel Basford holding a flag
HUNDREDS of angry University of Sheffield staged a protest over their pensions.
Union bosses say lower paid workers’ pensions face being cut by up to 50 per cent while payments for those on higher salaries will be maintained.
University bosses say they need to amend the way pensions are paid to ensure provision for staff remains affordable, sustainable and attractive to members in the face of funding cuts and higher tuition fees.
The University Executive Board recommended to the University Council that it closes the current final salary scheme and replaces it with a cash balance scheme.
Unions say the recommendation, if implemented, would halve the pensions for the lowest paid staff on grades one to five.
But they say staff in grade six and above, including the Vice-Chancellor and senior management, will continue to benefit from membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
Angry workers lobbied the meeting and warned ballots for industrial action will be held should the University Council press ahead, which could lead to a strike.
Unison secretary Sue Creswell said: “Around 70 per cent of those affected will be women.
“It is unfair and it is wrong. This is not the type of thing we expect from the university.”
Unite’s Martin Bentley said: “Following this year’s pay rise of 0.4 per cent the last thing the lowest paid at this institution need is an unfair and inequitable onslaught on their deferred pay.
“A member of support staff earning £15,000 per year under the cash balance proposals could expect to receive a pension in retirement after 40 years service of approximately £3,750.
“In the current USPS scheme the same member of staff could expect a pension of £7,500.”
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
anagrandma
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 11:51 PMI've never commented on here before. Is it usually people taking about unrelated stuff with some bizarre axe to grind, or is this a final refuge for people seeking a zone with a non-troll policy these days? There seems to be only around 4 contributors, who are somehow experts on every news article. I'm off to grind my axe - I'll be back soon to smack my ill formed fists on my keyboard.
horseman of the apocalypse
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 07:34 PMSWFC I advise you to ignore Morlockian, he lives in a fools paradise inside his own head similar to the ivory tower these academics have lived in for years.
swfc
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 01:50 PMMorlockian, how will me topping myself stop the madness of giving billions of pounds away to a foreign country and it's people? you might be a left wing socialist labour party voter, but their policy's and over spending have damaged this country and we are now having to pay heavily for that period of spending. for all who knock nick clog and his party they are the ones who have kept the government from opting out of the eu's human rites act, and having a uk bill of rites. as for topping myself why not just top yourself and then you will not have to read my posts or comment on them.
Morlockian
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 11:04 AM#2,swfc, when will all the madness end? It will end when you top yourself mate. Now hurry up and do it and stop wasting oxygen.
swfc
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 10:21 AMit had been a week from the last protest planed strike from the universities of Sheffield was getting worried their would not be one this week, ! If I was paying 9000 pounds a year I would be suing the universities for all this constant disruption by the employes of the univirsetie, the unions are just an annoying disruption the unions make millions a year let them come and sort it out make them pay for all the disruption caused, I'm sure students attitude towards missing lecturers and poor service are going to change, I can see the students protesting for a better service and attendance from the lecturers, still blame all this on the last government bills they have left still need paying and this eu is sucking the life out of the uk, new world order does not work, another country failing and wanting 25 billion pounds from the uk! we borrowed that of the USA after the second world war we paid that of just two years ago! so how we can afford with all the cut backs to drop 25billion In a country of corruption but cut the life out of things in the uk? when will all the madness end?
waywoodwind
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 10:03 AMthe steel & cutlery worker of this city when they retired got practically nowt ,,,,,,, what makes them different
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