Northumbria University staff striking for 10 days over pay and pensions row

A spokesperson for the university said its latest offer included a pledge to “consider” a pay award for staff who stayed in the TPS, while those who switched pensions would get a “confirmed minimum pay increase and a payment that provides individuals with a share of the savings achieved”.

They said the university was “significantly financially disadvantaged in comparison to universities such as Newcastle and Durham which offer the USS”.

The spokesperson said the USS was a “standard pension scheme for the majority of academic staff in the UK”.

A spokesperson for Northumbria University said: “Over recent months we have engaged openly and transparently with our colleagues about the need to address the very high costs of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).

“We have outlined clearly how universities required to offer the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, such as Northumbria, are significantly financially disadvantaged in comparison to universities such as Newcastle and Durham who offer the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

“At a time of huge pressure on university finances nationwide, the Teachers’ Pension Scheme costs Northumbria an additional £11 million per year compared to the cost of USS, of which the majority of academic staff in the higher education sector are members. This money could instead be used to enhance the student experience, improve our facilities for students and staff, and strengthen our financial sustainability.

“Following extensive engagement with our colleagues and our academic trade union, UCU, we have developed a proposal that addresses these costs while offering colleagues a choice between TPS and USS. The proposal includes a commitment to consider a pay award for colleagues who choose to stay in the Teachers’ Pension scheme which now has employer contributions of 28.68%, and for those who move to USS, a confirmed minimum pay increase and a payment that provides individuals with a share of the savings achieved.

“As well as being the standard pension scheme for the majority of academic staff in the UK, USS is the scheme that UCU offers to its own employees.

“We are disappointed that UCU has decided to take industrial action in response to these proposals and we remain committed to protecting the educational experience of our students during this period.”

Featured image via Instagram @ucunorthumbria