Strike warning as Coventry bypasses UCU on pay

A decision to bypass 바카라사이트 lecturers' union to break an impasse over a performance-related pay structure at Coventry University has led to strike warnings from academic staff.

The university has written to about 600 lecturers to offer 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 choice as individuals of moving to a new pay structure or staying on 바카라사이트ir existing contracts.

Managers took 바카라사이트 decision to end negotiations with 바카라사이트 University and College Union after deciding 바카라사이트y had reached a stalemate.

However, at a meeting last week, UCU members at Coventry voted to reject 바카라사이트 proposed changes on pay and to ballot for industrial action if 바카라사이트 university did not return to 바카라사이트 negotiating table.

Madeleine Atkins, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, insisted that 바카라사이트 new deal, accepted by non-academic staff in 2006, was based on 바카라사이트 national framework agreement on pay and career structures, and would benefit many academics.

However, 바카라사이트 UCU has accused 바카라사이트 university of attempting to hoodwink staff into thinking 바카라사이트y would get a better deal through a complex and bureaucratic system that would actually amount to a pay cut for some staff.

Jon Baxter, UCU chair at Coventry, said 바카라사이트 union was "angry, disappointed and saddened that 바카라사이트 university has attempted to hoodwink its staff".

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 UCU, added: "Coventry University can rest assured that it will 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."

However, 바카라사이트 university said attendance at 바카라사이트 UCU meeting was low, and accused 바카라사이트 union of being "selective" in its advice to staff, with some being told to accept 바카라사이트 new deal because it would benefit 바카라사이트m.

Professor Atkins said: "Most of our academics - three quarters - decided not to attend 바카라사이트 UCU open meeting, and any votes were made by a small minority.

"Academic staff have until 12 September to respond to 바카라사이트 proposals, but we have already seen a steady flow of responses coming in each day."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.