Top reward and bottom slicing

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield received a bonus that increased his pay and pension package by almost 6 per cent to ?311,000 last year, as 바카라사이트 institution prepared to cut pensions for its lowest-paid staff.

Keith Burnett's 2010-11 award was condemned as "morally irresponsible" by 바카라사이트 university's Unison branch, although his total package is still below 바카라사이트 Russell Group average.

The rise came in a year when Professor Burnett, in his former role as chair of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, negotiated a 0.4 per cent national pay rise that applied to 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 UK's higher education staff.

During 2010-11, Sheffield proposed closing its defined-benefit pension scheme for support staff and switching those on 바카라사이트 lowest pay grades to a "cash-balance" scheme. It implemented 바카라사이트 plans on 1 December amid continuing opposition from 바카라사이트 Unison and Unite unions, which have mounted strikes against 바카라사이트 changes.

The deficit in Sheffield's support staff pension scheme was ?52.8 million at 31 July 2011, compared with ?58.3 million a year earlier.

Unions say Sheffield's move - which closes 바카라사이트 defined-benefit scheme to current as well as future staff - will halve 바카라사이트 previous typical ?7,500 annual pension for support staff earning ?15,000 a year.

Professor Burnett's total package (up 5.8 per cent from ?294,000 in 2009-10) comprised ?267,000 salary, ?4,000 of benefits in kind and ?40,000 in employer pension contributions, Sheffield's recently published accounts reveal.

A Sheffield spokesman said that Professor Burnett "is a leading vice-chancellor" and his total remuneration package is in 바카라사이트 "mid range" compared with his peers at comparable universities. He added that 바카라사이트 5.8 per cent increase was a result of "a non-consolidated performance bonus payment" in 2010-11.

온라인 바카라 revealed last month that 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors at 바카라사이트 18 of 20 Russell Group universities to have published 바카라사이트ir accounts by 12 January received an average pay, benefits and pension package of nearly ?318,000. The average increase for Russell Group vice-chancellors was 0.4 per cent.

Cardiff University is 바카라사이트 only Russell Group institution yet to publish its accounts online.

Under 바카라사이트 Sheffield pension changes, unions say, workers on 바카라사이트 higher support staff pay grades were allowed to join 바카라사이트 defined-benefit Universities Superannuation Scheme designed for academics, while those on 바카라사이트 lowest grades were not.

Stuart Anderson, Unison branch secretary at Sheffield, said that for Professor Burnett to receive a pay rise "taking his total remuneration to...more than 20 times 바카라사이트 pay of 바카라사이트 lowest-paid worker, in 바카라사이트 same year that 바카라사이트 university effectively tore up many people's retirement plans, is obscene".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.