The Dundee University strike is OFF with support staff agreeing to return to work.
The decision came after university bosses agreed to take a controversial pension plan off the table
Moves to change the scheme for non-academic staff - those on the six lowest pay grades - were announced in March.
The switch to a ‘defined contribution’ plan would have seen clerical workers lose out on a guaranteed retirement sum and, according to Unite the Uunion, may even have seen some pension pots halved in value.
After months of talks failed to find a resolution, hundreds of workers represented by Unite, Unison and the UCU walked out last month and were on strike for two weeks.
Today Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University, said, “Following a constructive dialogue between the three campus unions – Unite, UNISON and DUCU – and University leadership, we have agreed a way forward for discussion on the future of the University of Dundee Superannuation Scheme (UoDSS).
“The unions have recently been holding strike action in relation to proposals to change the scheme. The unions have agreed to withdraw from strike action immediately as we return to discussions.
“We have agreed to engage fully in a discussion of all Defined Benefit options for future pension provision with immediate effect, and to commit to exploring all DB options constructively and comprehensively, with both the union and management sides openly bringing forward ideas for consideration.”
And he added: “We have agreed to refrain from further discussion of a Defined Contribution scheme between now and the February 2022 meeting of the University Court, our governing body.
“We are committed to making substantive progress on such discussions in order to bring to February 2022 Court an assessment of options for a future DB-based UoDSS scheme. It would then be for Court to decide on the options at that point.
“Provided there is support from Court, a further consultation with members of UoDSS would be held and detailed technical work could continue beyond the February Court discussion.
“I am encouraged by the return to discussions, which both sides have been keen to do, and sincerely hope we can reach a resolution on this matter.”
Reacting to the u-turn, Susan Robertson, regional industrial officer at Unite, said: "This has been a massive turnaround by the university - I now look forward to productive and timely negotiations."
And she added: "Unite’s members said enough is enough and took a stand against this injustice. Months have now been wasted by the University of Dundee who up until now consistently refused to explore the defined benefit pension options which we proposed.
"It has taken the strike action by our members, and the unanimous backing from Dundee City Councillors to get them back round the table. We still have a long way to go as we may have won the first battle, but we have not won the war.”
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