Statement by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan - 05/03/2018

I would like to thank UCU for organising such a constructive meeting today to discuss the pensions issue. I welcome the opportunity to listen to the concerns of staff. I would like to reaffirm my support for the continuing talks between UUK and UCU and to state my support for initiatives to find a long-term solution that provides a financially sustainable pension scheme for both USS members and employers.

I am grateful to Cardiff University colleagues who have agreed to sit on the group chaired by Professor Karen Holford, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, which will consider in detail the nature of the actuarial evaluation of USS underpinning current reform proposals. I value their expertise enormously and will share the results of the deliberations with USS and UUK and do all I can as Vice-Chancellor of a Russell Group University to play my role in finding a solution to this most difficult of problems.

I would like to reassure USS members that I have every sympathy with their predicament and welcome constructive engagement.