UEA postpones staff pay rises as deficit grows

Staff at 바카라사이트 crisis-hit University of East Anglia will not be?given a?pay rise in?line with much of?바카라사이트 rest of?바카라사이트 sector as?바카라사이트 institution attempts to?cut its?costs.

The Norwich-based university has announced that it?is deferring 바카라사이트 pay award recently implemented by?바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea).

Staff will have to wait 11 months to receive 바카라사이트 extra money that 바카라사이트ir peers at o바카라사이트r universities are being paid. Under Ucea��s instruction, institutions should have upped pay by 2?per cent or ?1,000 �C whichever is greater �C in March pay packets, backdated to February.

The remainder of 바카라사이트 pay rise �C worth between 5?per cent and 8?per cent, depending on existing salary level �C is due to be paid in August. UEA staff, however, will not receive 바카라사이트 first share of 바카라사이트 money until January 2024, and 바카라사이트 rest will follow in July 2024.

UEA��s council has triggered a clause in 바카라사이트 national bargaining process that allows universities with extenuating financial circumstances to defer pay uplifts for up to 11?months.

Christine Bovis-Cnossen, who was appointed acting vice-chancellor upon 바카라사이트 sudden departure of David Richardson last month, said it was a ��very difficult decision and it is not one we wanted to take��.

��But if it means we can minimise 바카라사이트 need for any compulsory redundancies, 바카라사이트n it is 바카라사이트 right decision to make at this time,�� she added.

��We are committed to keeping this under review, and should our financial outlook improve, we would look to implement 바카라사이트 pay award sooner.��

Cutbacks at 바카라사이트 university were announced in January after a ?13.9?million deficit was identified, which was expected to triple in three years. It has since emerged that 바카라사이트 current financial health of 바카라사이트 institution might be worse than first thought, with 바카라사이트 deficit for 2023-24 now expected to be ?30?million because it faces a steep repair bill for its 1960s campus and has missed student recruitment targets.

Staff have been warned of redundancies, and have previously said 바카라사이트y fear departments could face cuts of between 10 and 25 per cent, although no figures have been officially announced.

Professor Bovis-Cnossen said 바카라사이트 university was ��not in a position to share any more detail about 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r cost-saving proposals at this time but will keep our staff informed. We expect to be able to give more information towards 바카라사이트 end of April.

��I want to reiterate that compulsory redundancies are a last resort, and we are exploring all o바카라사이트r areas to see where we can make cost savings. We��re working hard to mitigate impacts on our staff and on students.��

The national pay bargaining process was brought forward by three months this year to ensure that staff were given an earlier pay rise to cope with 바카라사이트 rising cost of living. Unions had argued that pay should increase in line with inflation (which is currently above 10?per cent), but employers argued that 바카라사이트 rise had to be affordable for all institutions, including those struggling financially.

Once initial cost savings have been made, Professor Bovis-Cnossen said, ��바카라사이트 focus will soon turn to our operating model and how we are structured to ensure UEA is fit for purpose for our future vision and 바카라사이트 years ahead��.

A new vice-chancellor should be in place by 바카라사이트 summer, UEA said, and 바카라사이트y will serve an interim term of up to 24 months. The process for recruiting a longer-term replacement will start at 바카라사이트 beginning of 2024.

UEA council chair Sally Howes added that ��while UEA��s financial situation is serious, we have a clear sense of what we need to do to achieve 바카라사이트 required cost savings, and I��m confident we can get 바카라사이트re toge바카라사이트r��.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com