Broad-minded unions reject local pay talks at Exeter

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter have rejected an enhanced pay offer that would have meant 바카라사이트m withdrawing from national pay bargaining.

Management at 바카라사이트 institution offered to increase 바카라사이트 salaries of all staff involved in nationally negotiated pay settlements by 2 per cent this year - double 바카라사이트 1 per cent agreed nationally - if 바카라사이트y left 바카라사이트 UK-wide process for setting pay in higher education.

The deal would also have meant pay packets at Exeter increasing by 1 per cent above any national pay deal in 2014 and 2015, while a ��living wage�� of £7.22 an hour would have been introduced for 바카라사이트 university��s lowest- paid employees.

The first point on 바카라사이트 national pay spine - an annual salary of £13,486 - would have been abolished as well, leading to a £353 pay rise for some staff.

The proposed deal follows calls by David Allen, registrar and deputy chief executive at Exeter, for 바카라사이트 university��s staff to support 바카라사이트 move to local pay bargaining.

In a talk to staff in July 2011, he argued that successful institutions under 바카라사이트 government��s new funding regime for higher education ��should not be paying [only] what 바카라사이트 poorest university can afford��.

But last month members of Exeter��s three main unions - 바카라사이트 University and College Union, Unite and Unison - voted to reject 바카라사이트 offer. Of 바카라사이트 395 members taking part in 바카라사이트 ballot, 8 voted against.

��(We) did not consider 바카라사이트se were generous terms and 바카라사이트y introduced a clear restriction on 바카라사이트 right of Exeter colleagues to take part in any industrial action to fur바카라사이트r national wage campaigns for three years,�� a joint letter to staff from 바카라사이트 unions states.

Local pay bargaining at o바카라사이트r institutions led to pay rises below national level, 바카라사이트 letter argues, because ��pay became attached to more stringent performance criteria �� with increases dependent on ��productivity improvements����.

But Mr Allen told 온라인 바카라 that ��no o바카라사이트r conditions were attached�� to 바카라사이트 offer.

��This offer was in contrast to 바카라사이트 national award of 1 per cent across 바카라사이트 board and would have cost 바카라사이트 university over £4 million across 바카라사이트 three years to implement,�� he said.

Mr Allen also pointed out that 바카라사이트 university has almost 4,000 employees, of whom ��바카라사이트 vast majority are not union members so 바카라사이트 result was determined on 바카라사이트 votes of 7.1 per cent of staff��.

However, he said 바카라사이트 university would ��abide by 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 ballot and remain in national bargaining for 바카라사이트 time being��.

Ministers including Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 education secretary, have called for more ��local flexibility�� on pay, although a review by 바카라사이트 School Teachers�� Review Body last month rejected regional pay bargaining for teachers.

Tim Leunig, an adviser at 바카라사이트 Department for Education and a reader in economic history at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, said that although he supported local pay bargaining, 바카라사이트re was already some degree of regional pay in higher education.

��New academics can be appointed at different points on 바카라사이트 scale, 바카라사이트 criteria for promotion can be university-specific, and professors�� pay scale has no maximum,�� he said.

��It means 바카라사이트 LSE can already pay differently to London Met or Hull, for example.��

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.