University staff with gold-plated pensions to go on strike

Yahoo

12-02-2025

Support staff at the University of Strathclyde will go on strike over attempts to remove them from one of Britain's most generous pension schemes.
Hundreds of technicians, cleaners, security and estates staff were among 94pc of employees who voted to walk out over the university's 'shameless cash grab', Unite Scotland said.
The workers are members of the Strathclyde Pension Fund, which currently pays more pensions above £50,000 a year than any other local government fund in the country.
The university said it remained committed to offering excellent pensions.
Members of the Strathclyde Pension Fund, which is part of the Local Government Pension Scheme, receive an inflation-linked, guaranteed income for life upon retirement, along with the option of a tax-free lump sum.
According to figures obtained by The Telegraph, it currently pays 477 pensioners more than £50,000 a year – the highest number in Britain. Seven of those are paid over £100,000.
The university currently pays contributions of 6.5pc of staff salaries to fund the generous scheme, but that will rise to 17.5pc from 2026.
It is now proposing a change of pension provider, which Unite Scotland said would cost staff thousands of pounds in retirement.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: 'Unite's members at the University of Strathclyde have emphatically backed strike action. Pensions are deferred wages which our members contribute towards over many years for their retirement.
'The university's shameful cash grab from our hard-working members' pension pots will be vigorously resisted. Strathclyde university workers will have Unite's full support in defence of their pensions.'
Unite Scotland said the move, which will not affect teaching staff, was an attempt by the university to access a £100m pension surplus.
It also said that Strathclyde made an overall surplus of £46.8m in 2023 from an income of £487.4m and has substantial reserves.
Sir Jim McDonald, the university's principal and vice-chancellor professor, was paid £401,000 in 2023, with a further £3m divided up between the executive team, it added.
Alison MacLean, of Unite, said: 'The facts remain that there is a pension surplus of £100m and any changes could leave some workers thousands of pounds worse off every year.
'The university has an opportunity to bin its proposals and if they want to genuinely explore ways of improving its short-term financial position, then Unite is willing to discuss ways to do this – including tackling eye-watering executive pay.'
A University of Strathclyde spokesman said it had not yet reached a decision.
He said: 'Having engaged in extensive consultation over many months, we are disappointed with the outcome of the ballot, which the trade union chose to undertake after they withdrew from the collective consultation process.
'Following further consultation with our staff we have recently shared an enhanced pension proposal. The university remains committed to providing an excellent pension provision to its staff. A decision regarding the proposed change of pension provider has not yet been made.'
The move will not affect teaching staff because they are members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
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