UCU Scotland welcomes additional money for universities to cover increased pension costs

The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland today (Thursday 13 February) welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) of extra funding for Scottish universities to meet additional pension costs for employers in both the Scottish Teachers Pension Scheme (STPS) and NHS pension.

The additional employer pension costs for the STPS pension rose from 23% to 26% from April 2024.  UCU had argued that it was wrong for the additional costs to have to be met by the employers when they were as a result of changes by the UK Treasury.  The union said that yesterday's announcement by the Scottish Funding Council of an extra £5.8million for the university sector in Scotland would be important in helping universities weather the current funding crisis and protect jobs.

The additional costs borne by universities fell most heavily on the modern, post-92, institutions.  The announcement of new funding recognises this with three, the University of the West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and Glasgow Caledonian University, receiving over £1million each of new funding.

Mary Senior, Scotland official UCU, said "This additional £5.8million of funding, which is targeted at the newer post-92 universities to cover the increased employer pension costs from last April to this March, is welcome and much needed in a sector which is under financial strain.  UCU had repeatedly called upon the Scottish Government to meet the additional employer pension costs for the post-92 universities.   It is a relief that this additional funding for pensions has at last been provided.  We now need to ensure this funding continues for the coming financial year, and the wider under-funding challenges in the sector are addressed."

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: ""This is a huge win for our Scottish members, their tireless campaigning has helped save the pensions of thousands of university academics. Labour now needs to look to Scotland and bring in additional funding to protect staff pensions in post-92 universities across the rest of the United Kingdom."