This handsome chap is Nigel. After a hard life of racing Nigel was fortunate enough to be rescued and rehomed. Nigel is now enjoying a happy retirement. We would all like the same too

In 2018 our employers tried to end our guaranteed pension in favour of a defined contribution scheme where our retirement income would depend on the performance of investments instead of contributions. We fought to stop this.

In 2020 at the height of the market crash USS then conducted a valuation which they used to claim that contributions would need to rise substantially to maintain our benefits in retirement. Cuts applied between 2011 and 2019 had already reduced a typical retirement pot by £240,000.

Changes were forced through which cut the value of guaranteed income in retirement by up to 35% for an estimated 196,000 staff. Our employers have also imposed a cap on inflation protection of 2.5%. The latest 12-month consumer price index is currently 10.1%. The value of our pensions has been doubly impacted and once again we found ourselves having to take action to defend against proposals aimed at destroying the USS pension scheme.

In the Joint Statements agreed for calling off the Assessment and Marking Boycott last summer, the senior leadership team at Heriot-Watt agreed that the return of improved benefits to staff is a priority and that governance reform is needed.

Progress has been made but the fight is not over. In a joint statement published on 17 March 2023 UUK tentatively agreed to prioritising the restoration of benefits back to pre-2022 levels, a moderately prudent and evidence-based approach to future valuations, and a review of scheme governance.

Negotiations have so far been described as constructive but at this point our pensions have not yet been restored. We need to secure a mandate for further strike action to ensure that these committments are delivered on.

Please vote Yes in the the re-ballot. If you have not received your ballot papers you can request replacements at https://yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/ucuRISING-ballotupdate until Sunday 26 March.

A big thank-you to Nigel and to all the staff and students who were also on the picket today.