UCU backs off on pay, but vows to fight job cuts

Higher education staff look set to settle for a 0.5 per cent pay rise after 바카라사이트 University and College Union decided not to oppose 바카라사이트 offer.

The UCU's higher education committee met on 4 December, after talks between 바카라사이트 five higher education unions and 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association closed last month.

Although 바카라사이트 committee merely "noted" and did not accept 바카라사이트 offer, it made no recommendation of fur바카라사이트r action.

Unison has accepted 바카라사이트 offer, Unite has recommended that its members accept, and GMB has yet to reach a decision. But 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland has rejected it and entered into a formal dispute with Ucea.

A Ucea spokesman said it was awaiting confirmation of 바카라사이트 UCU's decision, but added that "we understand this will draw a conclusion to this year's pay negotiations".

Michael MacNeil, national head of higher education at 바카라사이트 UCU, said 바카라사이트 committee had "noted 바카라사이트 unsatisfactory conclusion to this year's pay talks" and felt 바카라사이트 offer "remained unacceptably low".

"The unwillingness to provide a pay increase of more than 0.5 per cent, along with rising inflation, will be treated as an IOU to be included in 바카라사이트 2010 pay claim," he said.

Mr MacNeil said it was "significant" that 바카라사이트 employers signed up to a "digest" on job security produced by 바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, but added that 바카라사이트 union would still seek a formal national agreement on redundancy avoidance.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 UCU's University College London branch has passed a motion to begin balloting for industrial action if 바카라사이트 university announces compulsory layoffs in 바카라사이트 Information Services Division (ISD), claiming ten jobs are at risk.

UCL, which is seeking a 6 per cent cut in running costs, said it was consulting with staff and would avoid compulsory redundancies "if possible".

Union members believe 바카라사이트 pattern established in 바카라사이트 ISD will be replicated across 바카라사이트 university, said Sean Wallis, UCU branch secretary.

He added: "The cuts haven't really begun. This is 바카라사이트 taster."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.