David Maguire, Interim VC
Today (31 January 2022), interim Vice-Chancellor David Maguire wrote to all staff. You can read his email in full:
Dear colleague,
Late last week, we received notification from the University and College Union (UCU) of another period of strike action in February and early March.
The strike dates affecting Sussex are 14-18 February, 21-22 February and 28 February-2 March (10 days total).
The action, as in December, is over national disputes about the USS pension scheme, and pay and conditions.
I’m sure many of you share my sadness that we are once again at this point. While I respect colleagues’ right to take part in industrial action, this is another blow for our students at a crucial time in their education and after an incredibly rough couple of years.
It is welcome news that UCU finally put forward last week an alternative proposal for concluding the 2020 USS valuation. As has been promised all along, I understand Universities UK will put this to all 340 employers in USS to gather views. Sussex will, of course, play its part in this, although remember we represent only around 0.7 per cent of USS scheme members, so our direct influence is small.
It is not clear that USS or The Pension Regulator would support deferring to a future valuation date nor is it clear what the result on that date would be. The UCU proposal yet again challenges the USS valuation process running against the formal USS estimate which the Pensions Regulator has said is not as prudent as they would expect. Their proposal seeks to change the long-established cost-sharing agreement between employers and UCU, in which employers pay 65% and members 35% of any contribution increases. Any solution needs to be affordable to members and all 340 employers in the scheme. We have stated regularly that we do not want to see employer or employee contributions rise and that member contributions rises risk squeezing colleagues out of being able to afford these important pension and life assurance benefits. We all have a shared interest in reaching a fair and realistic settlement – and I hope national negotiators can achieve that when they meet in a couple of weeks’ time so that the valuation can be concluded, and the dispute ended.
In the event that they cannot, and the strikes go ahead, our focus will, once again, be on minimising disruption to our students and their learning outcomes.
As before, we will be providing a wide range of information to students, including what they can expect during the industrial action. It would be very helpful, if you are asked for information from a student, to direct them to the Student Hub, as we aim to provide advice in this one place as much as possible.
Alongside our commitment to our students, the welfare of our staff is also very important and we must provide the space for different views and decisions, while maintaining a culture of dignity and respect. We will soon be sharing further information and guidance for you on a set of Industrial Action webpages.
Finally, I would like to add my congratulations to Professor Sasha Roseneil on her appointment as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University. Obviously, there is still lots to be done before she takes up the post in August and I am sure I will be having many conversations with her nearer the time to ensure a smooth transition. In the meantime, I have been asked by Council to continue to move ahead with the University’s pressing strategic agenda and the five objectives I set out last year. I am looking forward to serving Sussex for another six months.
Warm regards,
David
Interim Vice-Chancellor