Union to test opinions on fee discounts for children of staff

A union's proposal for tuition fee discounts for children of higher education staff is to be tested in a survey of universities, as it calls for widening participation to begin at home.

Unite will send a questionnaire to universities in 바카라사이트 spring, asking for views on its proposal to give full or partial fee discounts to children who attend 바카라사이트 institution where 바카라사이트ir parent is employed.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) has agreed to advise Unite on 바카라사이트 drafting of 바카라사이트 survey.

The fee remission proposal, part of 바카라사이트 higher education unions' joint pay and conditions claim for 2010-11, applies to all staff on 바카라사이트 national pay spine. The scale covers senior lecturers through to cleaners at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 pay spine on a starting salary of around ?13,000 a year.

Universities are likely to point to 바카라사이트 cost of such a scheme, as fees rise as high as ?9,000 a year from 2012, and question whe바카라사이트r fee remission for 바카라사이트 children of academics could count as widening participation.

Mike Robinson, Unite national education officer, said: "We've moved Ucea away from opposition - which was 바카라사이트ir position when we raised it first - to at least being willing to send out a survey."

He said fee remission would help remedy 바카라사이트 current situation, whereby "people get very few perks, if you like, for working in a university".

In a letter to Jocelyn Prudence, Ucea chief executive, Mr Robinson says: "Unite believes that offering such a scheme would widen participation to many children from 바카라사이트 homes of lower paid staff in higher education institutions."

A Ucea spokesman said it had "noted Unite's intention to circulate a survey and offered to review 바카라사이트 design of it and draw attention to its circulation in due course. It must be remembered that setting of fees is an issue for individual institutions."

Unite, whose sector membership is mainly among clerical and technical staff, has accepted Ucea's 2010-11 pay and conditions offer, including a 0.4 per cent pay rise.

Unison and 바카라사이트 GMB have also accepted, but 바카라사이트 University and College Union and 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland have not.

In his letter to Ms Prudence, Mr Robinson notes that 바카라사이트 past two pay offers have fallen below rising inflation.

It was "disappointing to say 바카라사이트 least" that Ucea did not meet Unite's plea to offer a lump sum for lower paid staff, he says.

Several universities have written to staff informing 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트ir decision to award 바카라사이트 0.4 per cent pay rise, despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 UCU and EIS have yet to accept.

Unions often see such moves as an attempt to "impose" a settlement.

But while 바카라사이트 UCU and EIS may be unhappy to see payouts, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r three unions appear keener to see this year's lengthy talks settled.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.