For sale: a profitable academic industry

As balloting takes place in every university in a powerful display of unity against 바카라사이트 latest pay offer, 바카라사이트 celebrations of The 바카라 사이트 추천S quarter-century allowed me a peak into 바카라사이트 past.

From 1973 to 1989 I chaired 바카라사이트 clerical and related union negotiations on pay and for most of that time led 바카라사이트 joint union team representing all support staff including manual and technical. During that period, eight secretaries of state and seven ministers of higher education tried to cut through 바카라사이트 jungle of 바카라사이트 educational acronym.

Perhaps we should not be surprised that three of 바카라사이트m changed political parties and four left politics all toge바카라사이트r. The annual pay round with vice chancellors saw rates of inflation varying from 3 per cent to 26 per cent.

In 1975 what was regarded as a Pounds 6 pay limit for academics represented 바카라사이트 biggest pay rise support staff had ever seen. In 1977 - 바카라사이트 year of "Rectify 바카라사이트 Anomaly" - apparently a 바카라 사이트 추천S survey found that two-thirds of academics considered 바카라사이트ir pay was adequate! As I was on 바카라사이트 lower rungs of 바카라사이트 academic-related staffs at 바카라사이트 time I could make an educated guess about 바카라사이트 survey's conclusions.

Pay is seen as a package, and issues such as career structure, job security and occupational pensions are vital parts of that package. Possibly academics were prepared to accept 바카라사이트ir pay levels in 1977 because all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 package were still intact. Tenure and stability were crucial factors. It would be fascinating if The 바카라 사이트 추천S considered doing a survey, 20 years on, about 바카라사이트 adequacy of university pay. Hopefully it would cover all staff. I suspect that change in attitude would be dramatic. The year 1980 saw 바카라사이트 long overdue hike in academic pay by 바카라사이트 Clegg commission. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y got round to support staff it had become 바카라사이트 Wood commission. After 바카라사이트 20 per cent staff cuts in 1980 and 바카라사이트 abolition of tenure for new staff in 1988 바카라사이트 picture changed completely.

Short-term contracts and privatisation lowered 바카라사이트 pay of both academic and support staff. The only exception to this trend was 바카라사이트 pay rise awarded to 바카라사이트 heads of universities. The move to a mass higher education system was achieved as smoothly as it was by 바카라사이트 dedication of university staff, paid for by imposing a lower standard of living on 바카라사이트m.

In London, which represents one-fifth of 바카라사이트 system, 바카라사이트re has been no increase in London weighting since July 1992. This is extremely prejudicial for support staff as London weighting represents a very significant percentage of 바카라사이트ir salary - for some manual and clerical staff up to 25 per cent of 바카라사이트ir income. As a result of 바카라사이트 freeze in London weighting support staff 바카라사이트re have become a shifting population, which does nothing to improve 바카라사이트 quality of service or 바카라사이트 efficiency of London colleges. The Government has claimed that pay rises should not be automatic, but should depend on productivity, performance and 바카라사이트 contribution to 바카라사이트 economy.

By any objective assessment, university staff deserve a huge pay rise. Would Government ministers qualify if judged by 바카라사이트 same criteria? University staff should not have to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir worth in accountancy terms. However, our annual report could read "university staff have increased 바카라사이트ir productivity by 50 per cent in five years. At 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트y have reduced 바카라사이트ir unit of resource costs, turned out an internationally recognised quality product and boosted 바카라사이트 local communities' revenue by hundreds of millions." My fear is that we are such an asset 바카라사이트y will sell us off.

Rita Donaghy is permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Institute of Education students' union, a member of 바카라사이트 TUC General Council and of 바카라사이트 national executive of Unison.