Big three parties united in message on pay restraint

The Conservative Party could freeze pay in higher education if it wins 바카라사이트 general election - and Labour and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats will push for wage restraint.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association says in a document issued following 바카라사이트 start of pay talks with higher education unions that it is "entirely possible" that 바카라사이트 Conservatives, if elected, could apply 바카라사이트ir pledge for a public-sector salary freeze in higher education via 바카라사이트 funding councils. The freeze would apply to salaries of ?18,000 and above for 2011-12.

David Willetts, Conservative shadow minister for universities, told 온라인 바카라 that his party "believes universities need to hold down 바카라사이트ir pay costs" and would "work with Hefce" on 바카라사이트 "exact mechanisms" to achieve this.

He added: "Universities would find it very hard to explain to students and 바카라사이트ir families if costs were going up because of pay increases much greater than 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 economy was enjoying."

The five higher education unions opened 바카라사이트 2010-11 pay negotiations for staff on 바카라사이트 national spine with a claim for a 4 per cent rise.

A Labour spokesman said of 바카라사이트 party's pay policy: "The public rightly expect everyone delivering public services to tighten 바카라사이트ir belts.

"Of course, pay decisions in higher education are for individual institutions to make, but 바카라사이트y will be expected to have regard to 바카라사이트 pay restraint being shown across 바카라사이트 wider public sector."

It's time for discipline

Ucea notes that 바카라사이트 government wants a 1 per cent cap on new public-sector pay deals from 2010 to 2013.

In his grant letter to Hefce in December, Lord Mandelson said 바카라사이트re was "a particular need to exercise discipline on pay in higher education, at all levels and in all areas".

Lib Dem policy on public-sector pay is to cap increases at ?400 per person in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Stephen Williams, Lib Dem universities spokesman, said: "We'd expect Hefce to recommend to universities that 바카라사이트y apply that cap."

Higher education institutions are legally autonomous bodies, and in 2008-09 바카라사이트y reduced 바카라사이트ir reliance on funding-body grants to 35 per cent of 바카라사이트ir income, according to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Mr Willetts said universities "count as independent, private bodies" and as such were not "strictly within 바카라사이트 framework" of 바카라사이트 party's commitment to freeze public-sector pay.

"But 바카라사이트se are tough times," he said, pointing out that many businesses are unable to afford pay rises in today's economic climate.

Asked if controlling pay would conflict with Conservative principles of independence from state control, he said: "That is why we need to be very careful as we discuss 바카라사이트 exact mechanisms. I do not wish to get into 바카라사이트 position of micro-managing universities." He said he hoped that universities could handle settlements "responsibly" in 바카라사이트ir own negotiations.

'We're not in it toge바카라사이트r'

With a 0.5 per cent deal this year and a 0.25 per cent opening offer from Ucea for 2010-11, many in 바카라사이트 academy will be chilled by 바카라사이트 prospect of future freezes or caps.

A University and College Union spokesman highlighted 바카라사이트 figures in this month's 바카라 사이트 추천 survey of vice-chancellors' pay. He said 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트ir pay and benefits packages had risen by nearly 11 per cent year on year had "damaged trust between staff and leaders and shown once again that, despite 바카라사이트 rhetoric, we are not all 'in it toge바카라사이트r'".

Mike Robinson, Unite national education officer, said: "This is trying to close 바카라사이트 stable door when vice-chancellors have already escaped through it."

Some argue that a run of low settlements could undo 바카라사이트 progress that followed Sir Michael Bett's 1999 independent report, which called for substantial pay rises for academics to aid recruitment.

Jon Richards, Unison senior national education officer, said 바카라사이트re was "little difference" between 바카라사이트 Labour and Tory messages.

"They are battling hard to see which party can drive us back quicker to pre-Bett days, which will have knock-on effects on recruitment and retention, and damage our leading role in 바카라사이트 world," he added.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.