Union members are to be balloted on proposals aimed at ending UK higher education¡¯s pensions strike.

The University and College Union¡¯s higher education committee voted on 28 March to put the latest offer from Universities UK to a vote next week.

This came after vice-chancellors confirmed that the element of the Universities Superannuation Scheme at the heart of the dispute ¨C defined benefits, which guarantee members a set income in retirement ¨C would be maintained while an expert panel considered the valuation of the fund.

Estimates of a ?6.1 billion deficit led UUK to propose the end of defined benefits, triggering 14 days of strike action at 65 universities.

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Also on 28 March, UCU served notice of the dates of further strike action at 13 universities, beginning on 16 April. All universities would be hit with a further 14 days of strike action, coinciding with exam and assessment periods, if the dispute is not settled.

Sally Hunt, UCU¡¯s general secretary, said: ¡°These latest proposals were won by the solid action of UCU members and now is the time for them to have their say on what happens next.¡±

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Under the new offer, the expert panel would be composed of actuarial and academic experts nominated in equal numbers by UUK and UCU. It would be tasked with recommending measures ¡°aimed at stabilising the fund to provide a guaranteed pension broadly comparable with current arrangements¡±.

UCU had warned that UUK¡¯s previous proposal to end defined benefits would leave the average lecturer ?10,000 worse off a year in retirement.

A UUK spokeswoman said that, while employers had indicated their support for the new proposal, ¡°this is conditional on the suspension of industrial action¡±.

¡°We expect the union to provide urgent clarity on the action planned for the week of the 16 April,¡± she said. ¡°Suspension of this action would be a huge relief to students ahead of the main examination period.¡±

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sophie.inge@timeshighereducation.com

Institutions affected by proposed strike action from 16 to 20 April

• Brunel University London
• Cardiff University
• Cranfield University
• University of Dundee
• University of Leeds
• Loughborough University
• University of Manchester
• University of Oxford
• Ruskin College
• University of Salford
• University of Southampton
• University of St Andrews

A three-day strike has been proposed for Bangor University, covering 16, 17 and 19 April.