Pensions Update

Hello all, I'm sorry it's been a long time since the last update. We had been waiting for the University's response to your feedback (on the 30th) and the Board of Trustees meeting on the 3rd of October. Many of you will have received a letter from the University saying they still intend to go ahead with the changes, with some minor concessions. This letter was drafted and sent before the negotiation meeting with the Trade Unions. It is further evidence of the university not wanting to enter into genuine negotiation. Furthermore it also presented the case as if the Trustees would automatically approve this. This is not the case. UNISON is now officially in dispute with the University over this. The trustees on Monday listened very sympathetically to representations from two members of the pension scheme on how the changes would affect them. They are not satisfied with the level of information from the university and have asked for more. So we have everything to fight for still. What do we do now? It is really important to keep up the pressure. Your signatures and in particular your comments have already had a significant affect on this. What we are now looking to do is to publicise the dispute. If you would be interested in helping by leafleting, talking to colleagues about the issue or speaking to the media about how this will affect you or getting involved in the campaign at all please contact me (e.bullen@unison.co.uk) alternatively UNISON have a stall in Staff House today at lunch time and you can come down and chat to me. Remember, collective action gets results!