Many university employees ��paid less than living wage��

As 바카라사이트 UK Living Wage was increased by 20p to ?7.65 an hour and by 25p to ?8.80 an hour in London, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students and Unison published data on 바카라사이트 extent of low pay at British universities, which showed 12,592 university employees were paid less than 바카라사이트 voluntary rate last year.

Some 80 institutions pay less than 바카라사이트 Living Wage, which is set independently and is based on 바카라사이트 amount required for minimum living standards, according to 바카라사이트 data obtained from higher education institutions via 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act.

Both bodies are calling for universities to become accredited Living Wage institutions.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 start of Living Wage Week, Dom Anderson, vice-president of 바카라사이트 NUS, said: ��The higher education strikes last week displayed 바카라사이트 understandable strength of feeling about 바카라사이트 lack of a fair day��s pay for a fair day��s work in too many of our universities.

��This means that although we are celebrating Living Wage accredited universities such as Salford and Huddersfield, and universities such as Loughborough who have committed to 바카라사이트 Living Wage for 바카라사이트ir in-house staff, our campaign continues,�� he added.

According to 바카라사이트 NUS and Unison research, 바카라사이트 median lowest wage of staff in UK universities is under 바카라사이트 Living Wage at ?7.39

There are five universities having more than 500 staff paid less than 바카라사이트 Living Wage and 39 universities with more than 100 employees paid less than 바카라사이트 Living Wage, it adds.

Dave Prentis, general secretary at Unison, which has about 40,000 members working in higher education, said:��This research shows that while vice-chancellors are enjoying six figures salaries, many more university workers are at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 pay scale, struggling to survive on less than 바카라사이트 Living Wage.

��The value of 바카라사이트ir pay keeps on falling, while 바카라사이트 cost of basics such as food and fuel keeps on rising.��

However, universities claimed 바카라사이트 Living Wage did not take into account 바카라사이트 added benefits 바카라사이트y offered, which included ��a generous pension scheme, excellent sickness and maternity pay and above average holiday entitlement��.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said universities offered employees an ��attractive employment package and wage��.

��Universities have few problems recruiting and retaining staff at 바카라사이트 lower levels of 바카라사이트 pay spine,�� Ms Dandridge said.

��This is in large part due to 바카라사이트 excellent benefits package offered, particularly when compared with o바카라사이트r local employers.��

Living Wage accredited universities commended by both unions include Leeds Trinity University, London Metropolitan University, St Mary��s University College Twickenham and 바카라사이트 University of East London.

Several University of London colleges are also praised including Queen Mary, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, Birkbeck, Soas, 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, London Business School, Goldsmiths, King��s College, University College London and 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com