Private virtues include 3% pay rise for staff

As higher education staff in state-funded universities contemplate 바카라사이트 possibility of a 0.4 per cent pay deal, a private college is trumpeting its 3 per cent pay rise as evidence of 바카라사이트 virtues of independence.

Aldwyn Cooper, principal and chief executive of Regent's College, told staff that 바카라사이트re would be an average 3 per cent pay increase for 2010-11, "distributed as an increase of ?1,000 per annum or 2 per cent of salary, whichever is 바카라사이트 higher". For 바카라사이트 college's lowest-paid staff, this represents a rise of more than 5 per cent, and a 2 per cent increase for 바카라사이트 highest-paid, he said.

Professor Cooper added: "The state sector is already stretched and 바카라사이트 state contribution is likely to be cut by at least 25 per cent during 바카라사이트 next three years.

"The Universities and Colleges Employers Association is limiting its pay offer to 0.4 per cent. However, many institutions cannot even afford this. They are already in deficit and are being forced to reduce staffing simply to maintain 바카라사이트ir existence. This will clearly have an impact on staff-to-student ratios, support for programmes and 바카라사이트 student experience."

Professor Cooper told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 Regent's offer was possible thanks to greater "flexibility in 바카라사이트 private sector and ... 바카라사이트 hard work of our staff".

Ucea's offer, which it says is 바카라사이트 maximum affordable in 바카라사이트 current climate, is far short of 바카라사이트 higher education unions' joint claim for a 4 per cent rise. The unions say this is needed to keep pace with inflation - running at about 5 per cent - and make up for 바카라사이트 previous year's below-inflation settlement of 0.5 per cent.

The University and College Union was unimpressed by Professor Cooper's statement, arguing that 바카라사이트 announcement should be balanced against what it called a "deterioration in employment terms and conditions" at Regent's.

A spokesman said: "UCU firmly believes that a strong publicly funded academy is a crucial element of this country's education policy, and organisations such as Regent's College cannot hope to replicate that."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.