New Release - These slides describe, from the perspective of Brendan Mulkern for Universities UK (UUK), the situation relating to USS just prior to the release of the Joint Expert Panel (JEP) first report. (Even though the date of the slides – 14 September 2018 – is subsequent to the publication of the JEP (13 September 2018).) The slides cover the 'overall position' from the perspective of the employers; the challenges for the coming period; and how the employers establish a collective position (both through formal consultation and informal engagement).

We have received a copy of the template/guidelines used for complaint letters sent by member complainants to USS Ltd regarding underpayments. These letters were largely sent to USS in the first quarter of 2017, and some complainants cced their local MP. What is unusual is that USS CEO Bill Galvin himself responded to this letter, a link to which is here.

Another USS document, Oxford is running a consultation on the changes to the UK academic pensions. It seems that the outcome of the consultation about the contributions paid to the USS pension scheme will be sent to the USS trustees.

We have a release of documents related to the strike by UK academics over pensions, and the on going negotiations between the UCU, UUK, and USS. There are three documents in the release:

1. An email from one Alistair Jarvis breifing members (we believe in this case UUK members) on the 2017 valuation of the USS pension.
2. A document detailing 'key messages' for UUK members.
3. Briefing paper for USS Employers.

We have an interesting combination of release and freedom of information request. We were directed to a recent FOI request that was made to the University of York (in the UK) asking for details of any policies that they might have regards the registering of academic visitors to the University. For the purpose of visa monitoring. The result of the FOI request can be viewed here, marked by those making the request as "partially successful".

In addition to the USS accounts we now also have Actuarial Valuations from 1999 to 2008. There are later years of these on the USS website, but not easily found.

USS has started removing old accounts reports from their site so we were asked to post the old ones up.

Attached are majority of the accounts from 2010.

USS has started removing old accounts reports from their site so we were asked to post the old ones up.

Attached are majority of the accounts from the 2000s.

Last week saw what can only be described as a rather chaotic UCU Congress (University and College Union). We are no experts on UK Unions, however one union blocking another union's members voting (or even discussing) a tabled motion seems undemocratic. The motions were in part to discuss a no confidence vote in the UCU General Sec, who happens to be a member of Unite. Since this is academic's trying to debate whether or not their union is serving their best interests, it's in our arena.