All Universities UK articles

  • News

    USS launches consultation on proposed funding assumptions

    2023-07-19T00:00:00Z

    The Universities Superannuation Scheme has launched a consultation with Universities UK (UUK) on the trustee’s proposed funding assumptions and methodology for the scheme’s 2023 actuarial valuation and on the statement of funding principles.

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    News

    Universities staff to strike again over pay and pensions

    2023-01-18T00:00:00Z

    On the go: More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities will strike on February 1, in a dispute that includes disagreement over the 2020 valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme

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    News

    USS surplus hints at ‘positive choices’ over contribution rates

    2022-11-29T00:00:00Z

    On the go:The Universities Superannuation Scheme has swung into a £5.6bn surplus, according to its latest monitoring report, offering the possibility of “positive choices” regarding future contribution rates, while sparking fury among those taking strike action against scheme reforms.

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    News

    UUK: ‘Ignoring USS problem is not the answer’

    2022-11-21T00:00:00Z

    The president of Universities UK has stood by planned reforms to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, in the lead up to unprecedented strike action that will take place across 150 universities.

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    News

    USS pension benefits ‘could be retroactively paid back’

    2022-11-01T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The University and College Union has claimed that approximately £0.5bn in pension benefits cut by Universities UK could be paid back to around 200,000 staff in the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

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    News

    Academics back strike action over USS ‘pension cuts’

    2022-10-24T00:00:00Z

    The Universities and College Union has secured a mandate to strike in 150 universities over member benefit cuts in the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

  • Peter Summers/Reuters
    News

    University employers stick to USS cuts despite strike threat

    2022-10-10T00:00:00Z

    Universities Superannuation Scheme employers have rebuffed renewed calls by the University and College Union to restore benefit cuts in response to the scheme’s controversial 2020 valuation, arguing there is “no solid evidence” to make benefit changes before the 2023 valuation.

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    News

    TPR’s criminal powers ‘pose risks’ to universities

    2022-09-07T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator’s new criminal powers could potentially pose risks to university sponsors of defined benefit schemes, especially in light of reforms at the Universities Superannuation Scheme, legal experts have said.

  • Peter Summers/Reuters
    News

    UCU threatens ‘unprecedented strikes’ as USS reaches surplus

    2022-08-19T00:00:00Z

    The University and College Union has strongly criticised the decision to cut staff benefits, as the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s June monitoring report reveals a surplus of £1.8bn and universities prepare to embark on billions of pounds in capital expenditure.

  • Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
    News

    USS annual report shows significant improvement but angers unions

    2022-07-26T00:00:00Z

    The significant improvement in the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s funding position and resilience has angered the University and College Union, which argued that benefit cuts implemented in April were “totally unnecessary” in light of the scheme’s strength.

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    News

    USS review sees ‘much improved’ deficit cut by £12bn

    2022-07-25T00:00:00Z

    Despite an accelerated year-end review conducted by the Universities Superannuation Scheme revealing a “much improved deficit”, with a reduction of £12bn, the trustee board is reluctant to agree to interim changes to benefits of contribution rates before the scheme’s 2023 valuation.

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    News

    Employers call for UCU backing over USS governance review

    2022-07-05T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Universities UK, the group representing 340 Universities Superannuation Scheme employers, has called for the backing of the University and College Union over the scheme's governance review.

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    News

    Academics reject USS Employers’ 12% pensions cut forecast

    2022-06-16T00:00:00Z

    On the go: A group of academics have attempted to refute Universities UK’s claim that staff in the £90bn Universities Superannuation Scheme earning less than £40,000 annually would receive a “headline” cut of 12 per cent to their future pension, pointing out to higher losses.

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    News

    Soas demands new USS valuation and inequality assessments

    2022-06-06T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Soas University of London and its union branch have jointly called for “an evidence-based, moderately prudent valuation as soon as possible” of the £88.8bn Universities Superannuation Scheme.

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    News

    Loughborough Uni and UCU warn USS against reducing contributions

    2022-05-10T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Positive changes resulting from the next valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme should be used to improve member benefits, Loughborough University and the University and College Union have argued.

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    News

    UCU agrees marking boycott in latest USS escalation

    2022-05-05T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Staff at 26 universities will take part in a marking boycott and strike action following the latest escalation of the ongoing Universities Superannuation Scheme pensions dispute.

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    News

    New strike mandate at universities over USS pensions row

    2022-04-13T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Staff at 27 universities have a mandate to take strike action over pensions that will last until October 2022, after the University and College Union secured the support of its members.

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    News

    USS trustee concerned by ‘misleading’ use of financial reports

    2022-04-04T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee has issued an update on scheme finances, and expressed its concern that previous use of monitoring statements by parties involved in the ongoing 2020 valuation dispute could be “misleading” members about the true state of the scheme.

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    News

    Another wave of strikes begins as USS valuation row escalates

    2022-03-18T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Staff at 40 universities have begun the next round of industrial action over the controversial conclusion of the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s 2020 consultation.

  • News on the go
    News

    USS discourages use of alternative benefits modellers

    2022-03-14T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Universities Superannuation Scheme has discouraged members from using alternative benefits modellers to work out how they will fare following the conclusion of the scheme’s 2020 valuation, warning that they operate on very different assumptions to those agreed by employers and the trustee.