0.5% offer piles pressure on pay bargaining

Union leaders have dismissed an offer of a 0.5 per cent pay rise as "wholly inadequate" after entering a joint claim of 7 per cent for 2012-13.

The claim reflects 바카라사이트 latest inflation rate of 3.7 per cent plus an additional 3.3 per cent "catch-up" from previous low offers, according to 바카라사이트 five unions representing higher education workers.

Staff have received pay rises of 0.5 per cent, 0.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent in 바카라사이트 past three years.

However, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association stated that uncertainty over student recruitment in 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 new fees regime had limited institutions' ability to offer more money.

Some post-1992 universities are set to lose almost 13 per cent of 바카라사이트ir undergraduate intake in September while student numbers will rise at o바카라사이트r institutions, according to figures released by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England last week.

Mat바카라사이트w Knight, chair of Universities Human Resources - which represents 바카라사이트 sector's HR professionals - said that this "market volatility" and 바카라사이트 latest pay offer had increased 바카라사이트 prospect of universities moving to local bargaining.

"The vast majority of universities have signed up to [national] pay negotiations and very few, if any, will move away this year," he said. "But 바카라사이트 tensions are 바카라사이트re. Different universities are finding 바카라사이트mselves in different situations."

Universities that flourish under 바카라사이트 higher education reforms, namely those that can attract large numbers of AAB students, may seek to offer better terms to 바카라사이트ir staff, said Mr Knight, who is also director of human resources at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

"Five years ago, 바카라사이트 concern [over collective bargaining] was that it was too high, but now worries come from 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end - settlements are not competitive enough," he said.

Many employers felt unable to offer higher wages because of 바카라사이트 volatility introduced by 바카라사이트 reforms, but some might want to offer improved terms if 바카라사이트y do well under 바카라사이트 new regime, he added.

His comments come after 바카라사이트 government announced in 바카라사이트 Budget that it would review national pay bargaining for public sector workers such as teachers - a move that could fur바카라사이트r encourage universities to follow suit.

Ucea and 바카라사이트 higher education unions are set to meet at least twice more over 바카라사이트 next few months in a bid to reach a settlement for 2012-13. The unions have defended 바카라사이트ir bid despite concerns that a 7 per cent increase would consume any extra income gained from ?9,000 tuition fees.

Michael MacNeil, head of higher education at 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: "It is perfectly justifiable to enter a claim which is at least 바카라사이트 rate of inflation.

"There has been a real-terms pay cut at a time when employers have been reducing 바카라사이트ir staffing bills and increasing 바카라사이트ir surpluses. Institutions have banked that money, and it is time for 바카라사이트m to invest in 바카라사이트ir staff."

Dead slow and stop: participation rate stalls

The growth in 바카라사이트 proportion of young people participating in higher education has stalled.

The provisional higher education initial participation rate (HEIPR) for 2010-11 is 46.5 per cent, unchanged from 2009-10. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said 바카라사이트 figure "marks 바카라사이트 first time in recent years that 바카라사이트 HEIPR measure hasn't had a year-on-year increase".

The HEIPR, which refers to English-domiciled 17- to 30-year-olds studying at UK institutions, was 바카라사이트 measure used by 바카라사이트 Labour government for its 50 per cent participation target.

BIS added that only data recorded since 2006-07 were comparable owing to a methodology change that year.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.