UCU: Sham subsidiarie3s, TPS and role of consultants

Motion

Motion text: Conference notes that Southampton Solent University (SSU) is moving 357 academics by TUPE-transfer into a sham subsidiary SUSL (Solent University Services Limited), which will involve the replacement of Teachers Pensions Scheme (TPS) with a private AVIVA pension.

Conference notes that it came to light on 31 March that SSU paid Mercer Consulting £100,000 for actuarial and technical advice, partially in relation to the replacement of LGPS and TPS with the AVIVA pension scheme. Conference notes that Mercer's long business relationship with AVIVA Insurance has not been declared by the University to Solent staff.
Conference agrees that the Branch should have full support from UCU to adequately advise on whether the unacknowledged nature of the relationship between Mercer and AVIVA may have misled Solent employees receiving pension information from Mercer consulting, and to establish if relevant regulations have been breached.