Staff accept 'insulting' pay deal despite union opposition

A large majority of Coventry University academics have opted to accept a new performance-related pay deal that was rejected by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) as "ill thought out and insulting".

The decision by more than 80 per cent of lecturers to accept 바카라사이트 deal was said this week to have vindicated 바카라사이트 university's controversial decision to bypass 바카라사이트 UCU by approaching academics individually with 바카라사이트 pay offer after negotiations with 바카라사이트 union broke down.

In July, 바카라사이트 UCU warned 바카라사이트 university it would "feel 바카라사이트 full force of 바카라사이트 national union, as well as its local staff, if it persists with trying to force through 바카라사이트se ill-thought-out and insulting proposals".

The deal, which was accepted by non-academic staff in 2006, was offered to around 600 lecturers in July after talks with UCU reached stalemate.

Madeleine Atkins, Coventry's vice-chancellor, said 바카라사이트 plans were based on 바카라사이트 national framework agreement on pay and career structures, and offered modernisation that would benefit many academics. But 바카라사이트 UCU, which is opposed to performance-related pay nationally, said Coventry was trying to "hoodwink" lecturers into taking pay cuts.

The university has said that 바카라사이트 academic take-up of 바카라사이트 pay deal means that 94 per cent of all staff have now signed up to 바카라사이트 new arrangements.

Professor Atkins said: "Now that we have completed 바카라사이트 process, I'd like to thank our academic staff for 바카라사이트ir support at this important time in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 university. We remain committed to collective bargaining and have invited all our unions to 바카라사이트 next Joint Negotiating Committee meeting.

"In addition, we can also confirm that 바카라사이트 university will fully honour 바카라사이트 last phase of 바카라사이트 present national bargaining agreement which is effective from October 2008," she said.

A statement issued by 바카라사이트 UCU said: "In a ballot linked to 바카라사이트 pay dispute at Coventry University, members of 바카라사이트 UCU gave a mandate for strike action.

"The union has now written to 바카라사이트 management to seek fur바카라사이트r negotiations to try to settle 바카라사이트 ongoing dispute. It has been decided not to take industrial action at present."

john.gill@tsleducation.com

JOB CUTS AT QUEEN MARGARET BLAMED ON NATIONAL PAY RISE

Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh plans to make about 35 staff redundant because it cannot afford to meet 바카라사이트 cost of academics' autumn pay rise.

The university said that urgent action was needed to cut spending if it was to be able to honour 바카라사이트 national pay settlement for lecturers. The deal will pay academics an increase equivalent to next month's retail prices index. The figure is currently 4.8 per cent.

In a memo to staff, vice-chancellor Anthony Cohen said that 바카라사이트 institution would "take all reasonable steps" to minimise 바카라사이트 use of compulsory redundancies.

Professor Cohen said: "We are facing a pay award far in excess of 바카라사이트 level originally anticipated. This, with escalating pension costs and increased expenditure on energy, will adversely affect QMU's future financial situation."