Strikes now likely as talks end without an agreement

The chair sided with the employers' representatives and their plans to transform the scheme from one with a guaranteed retirement income to a defined contribution scheme where pension income is subject to changes in the stock market.

The union said it was disappointed that the talks ended with the changes being imposed on USS members. It added it was surprised that more talks had also been dismissed after UUK said yesterday it hoped to avoid industrial action through further talks with UCU.

Read the full UCU reaction here.