Employers Pension Fund

9 March 2011

The USS Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met today (9 March) in the rearranged meeting to conclude the process of implementing moderate scheme changes before tomorrow’s (10 March) USS Trustee Board meeting.
 
However, the JNC process was stalled again because the UCU delegates declined to attend the meeting.  UCU delegates had previously declined to complete the meeting on 1 February or attend on 2 March.

Sir Andrew Cubie, the independent chairman of the JNC, has again convened a further meeting of the JNC to take place on Thursday 17 March.

An EPF spokesperson, commenting on this outcome, said:

‘Further delay to the USS process for change is bitterly disappointing and potentially damaging to the scheme.  The UCU and its JNC representatives are failing in their responsibilities by refusing to participate in meetings central to the USS process for concluding scheme changes.’

‘These are moderate and reasonable changes that were approved by the JNC in July 2010 and then by the USS Trustee Board, both of which involved full UCU representation. Hopefully UCU representatives will attend on the 17 March otherwise the union will be jeopardising its unique role and responsibility in representing all USS scheme members*.’  

‘When it comes to the running of a £30bn pension scheme like USS, UCU cannot play a game of both rule maker and rule breaker.’

*UCU has an exclusive role in the scheme governance representing all USS scheme members, regardless of their UCU membership
 

Full details of the EPF's proposals can be found under the USS Review section of the website