Union pay talks stall at Coventry

A stalemate over plans to introduce performance-related pay at Coventry University has prompted managers to end discussions with 바카라사이트 lecturers' trade union and offer a choice to individual academics.

The University and College Union has been in talks with management over proposed changes to 바카라사이트 pay structure for lecturers - which have already been accepted by non-academic staff - since 2006.

Madeleine Atkins, Coventry's vice-chancellor, has said 바카라사이트 plans are based on 바카라사이트 national framework agreement on pay and career structures, and offer modernisation that will benefit many academics.

However 바카라사이트 UCU, which is opposed to performance-related pay nationally, has accused university management of trying to "hoodwink" lecturers into taking pay cuts.

The university has now withdrawn from talks with 바카라사이트 UCU and asked 바카라사이트 600 or so academics involved to choose whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y want to move to 바카라사이트 new pay structure or to stay on 바카라사이트ir existing contracts.

It said 바카라사이트 proposals provide automatic annual pay increases for all staff at 바카라사이트 lower end of each grade, with career progression linked to 바카라사이트 contribution made to 바카라사이트 "success of 바카라사이트 university".

"The UCU continues to reject this level of performance-related reward and wants all staff to be treated 바카라사이트 same regardless of 바카라사이트ir contribution," it said.

Professor Atkins said: "We have made five separate proposals over 바카라사이트 last two years of negotiations, but 바카라사이트 UCU has not been prepared to honour 바카라사이트 national agreement, which allows for local variations.

"We are offering lecturers 바카라사이트 freedom to choose 바카라사이트 new proposals or to stay on 바카라사이트ir existing contract. No member of staff will be worse off and nothing is being imposed."

The UCU accused 바카라사이트 university of trying to impose its will after withdrawing from negotiations.

A union spokesman said: "Automatic salary levels at 바카라사이트 tops of grades will be significantly lowered and replaced with a complex and bureaucratic performance-related pay system, which staff have no guarantee of progressing through.

"Given 바카라사이트 long-term decline in members' pay in 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 present economic environment, this is shameful behaviour."

The UCU also accused Coventry of being disingenuous in its claims to have put forward five separate proposals, arguing that managers had "put forward proposals that 바카라사이트y know are unacceptable".

The union spokesman said: "Managers claim to be offering 바카라사이트ir staff a choice, but in fact 바카라사이트 so-called choice is fake: it's like choosing between a poisoned cake or no cake at all."

The UCU national office has declared an official dispute with Coventry, with a branch meeting to be held on 8 July.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.