Decent public pensions essential to retain best staff, not optional extra, says UCU ahead of Hutton report

The union, whose members are set to strike in 63 universities later this month over changes to their pensions scheme, said that decent pensions were essential if the UK was to retain its best staff, not an optional extra.
 
UCU questioned how decimating the few remaining decent pension schemes in the country would help keep young scientists and academics in the UK, particularly when they see their pension as deferred pay.
 
More on the first UK-wide strike action by lecturers for five years can be found at: 63 universities to be hit with strike action this month as UCU announces strike dates
 
Ahead of the Hutton report on public sector pensions, UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'To portray public sector pensions as gold-plated is as lazy as it is offensive and adds absolutely nothing to the debate.
 
'Decent pensions are essential if the UK has any interest in retaining its best and brightest; they are not an optional extra. We need to be doing all we can to try and keep the best and brightest young scientists, academics and researchers in the country, not attacking their few benefits.
 
'The reason UCU members are prepared to take their first national strike action for five years is because they see their pensions as deferred pay. Their pensions compensate for the lower salaries they receive carrying out research and teaching in universities than they would get if they chose to use their highly-specialised knowledge and skills elsewhere.'