Tell your MP: support the funding of Teachers' Pensions Scheme rises in higher education

As a result of decisions made by the UK government, the rate of employer contributions to the Teachers' Pensions Scheme (TPS) is increasing by between 3% and 5% from April 2024 onwards.

While the Department for Education confirmed that additional funding would be provided to schools and colleges to cover this additional cost, the UK government has so far refused to provide the same support to higher education providers in TPS--primarily Post-92 universities.

These increased costs are unfair and artificial. It is important to understand that this increase is due only to UK government policy, and not because of any increase in benefits for current TPS members. TPS is a notional fund, and the contributions paid by employees and employers go straight to HM Treasury.

The UK government's refusal to fund the increase in contributions for higher education providers means that a substantial amount of money which could be used for the benefit of the students, staff and their communities is being taken out of the HE sector. Moreover, some of our universities will be put under further financial stress, threatening the livelihoods of UCU members and exacerbating inequalities within the HE sector.

We are already seeing HE employers exploring options for leaving the scheme as a result of this funding gap. Last week, I wrote to UCEA and UUK to outline UCU's objections to any HE employer withdrawing from TPS. In addition, I wrote to Gillian Keegan, the Secretary of State for Education to put forward UCU's case.

We are encouraging UCU members working in Post-92 institutions in England and Wales to ask their MP to sign a parliamentary motion calling on the government to intervene and cover the cost. You can use UCU's email tool to contact your MP here. Further details of lobbying activity for members in Scotland and Northern Ireland will be notified shortly.

Our message is clear: our pensions are not up for debate. Just as UCU has defended the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) in recent years, we will defend TPS with exactly the same tenacity.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary