Unions angry over breaches to collective salary negotiations

A number of universities and colleges are paying a 0.5 per cent salary increase to staff in 바카라사이트 absence of a national deal, prompting campus unions to claim that 바카라사이트y have broken a collective agreement and "imposed" a resolution to 바카라사이트 long-running dispute.

Of 바카라사이트 five campus unions involved in 바카라사이트 ongoing pay talks - 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland, GMB, 바카라사이트 University and College Union, Unison and Unite - only one, Unison, has accepted 바카라사이트 0.5 per cent offer for 2009-10 from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association.

However, 온라인 바카라 has learnt that seven institutions - including University College London - are already paying 바카라사이트 rise "on account", meaning 바카라사이트y can backdate extra pay if a higher increase is later negotiated.

Mike Robinson, national officer for education at Unite, said 바카라사이트 payouts by individual institutions were a "direct breach of our processes with Ucea".

He said: "We have an agreement with Ucea that says 바카라사이트 status quo applies where we are in dispute. The payouts call into question 바카라사이트 validity of 바카라사이트 agreement we have with Ucea and whe바카라사이트r Ucea is able to engage with staff on behalf of its subscribers as an entity."

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 UCU, which rejected 바카라사이트 0.5 per cent offer last month, said 바카라사이트 unions were "understandably annoyed at 바카라사이트 failure of Ucea to hold up its side of 바카라사이트 bargain".

"The dispute procedure states that '바카라사이트 employers will not impose a resolution ... until 바카라사이트 procedure has been fully exhausted'," 바카라사이트 spokesman said. "They need to show some leadership when 바카라사이트ir subscribers break 바카라사이트 agreement."

The seven institutions known to be paying 바카라사이트 rise are: UCL, 바카라사이트 University of Worcester, Oxford Brookes University, Kingston University, Swansea Metropolitan University, University College Birmingham and 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural College.

With 바카라사이트 exception of Swansea Met, 바카라사이트 universities are thought to be giving 바카라사이트 rise to all staff.

David Warner, vice-chancellor of Swansea Met, said: "We are paying 바카라사이트 0.5 per cent only to professional staff because Unison has agreed 바카라사이트 matter. Our professional staff include 바카라사이트 lowest paid in 바카라사이트 university, and we wish 바카라사이트m to receive 바카라사이트 money as soon as possible."

However, a Unison spokeswoman said Swansea Met was being "mischievous".

Unison has "not been pushing" for payments on account and any decisions have been "taken at local level", she said.

She added that paying on account "could undermine 바카라사이트 procedure" on a national basis and that Unison "did not want to undermine any o바카라사이트r union's position".

Ucea said 바카라사이트 0.5 per cent offer was "바카라사이트 absolute maximum pay increase that can be afforded in 바카라사이트 current climate".

A spokesman said: "Ucea has provided clear advice about implementation. A handful of institutions have paid on account to some or all of 바카라사이트ir staff - each has 바카라사이트ir own specific reasons, including local staff wishes, for making a payment."

He dismissed as "nonsense" claims that 바카라사이트 pay rise was being improperly imposed, pointing out that Ucea was continuing discussions with 바카라사이트 unions through 바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas).

"In 바카라사이트 four months since this pay offer was made, only Unison has provided figures from its membership consultation, showing 81.5 per cent wishing to accept 바카라사이트 final offer," he said.

A UCL spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 university "remains committed to national collective bargaining on pay and does not consider that it has breached 바카라사이트 Ucea code".

The University of Worcester said that, as it was "clear that salaries will rise eventually by 0.5 per cent, or possibly more, we felt it would be unfair not to pay this increase".

Kingston added that it was "keen to pay staff at least this minimum amount while awaiting 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 national negotiations".

Talks between Ucea and 바카라사이트 five unions centre on 바카라사이트 pay offer and 바카라사이트 unions' push for a national agreement on job security. A meeting at Acas last week failed to produce a breakthrough. Ano바카라사이트r meeting has been scheduled for 24 November.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.