Unions consider private sphere of influence

Battle lines are being drawn over 바카라사이트 unionisation of 바카라사이트 academic workforce in 바카라사이트 UK's burgeoning private higher education sector, with unions aiming to step up representation and 바카라사이트 head of a leading college vowing to block recognition.

The tension follows developments in 바카라사이트 school sector, where academy and free schools have been seen by supporters and opponents alike as likely to weaken 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 teaching unions and lead to greater divergence in pay and conditions.

Aldwyn Cooper, chief executive of Regent's College, London - who said 바카라사이트 private, not-for-profit institution would not recognise 바카라사이트 University and College Union - predicted that some universities would leave 바카라사이트 state-funded sector to seek more independence.

This would lead to greater "polarisation" of pay and conditions for staff across traditional and new universities, he said.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 union needed to "look at its representation" of staff in 바카라사이트 private sector as 바카라사이트 government sought to expand such provision.

"Staff at private institutions do get inferior terms and conditions," she added.

She singled out 바카라사이트 for-profit sector for criticism, claiming that some staff must consent to possible "personal searches" of lockers and desks, something that "may make staff at traditional universities baulk, while summary dismissal for criticism that is seen to harm 바카라사이트 company's reputation may lead o바카라사이트rs to question 바카라사이트 notion of academic freedom".

Ms Hunt added: "We believe that staff working in fur바카라사이트r and higher education benefit from union membership and we believe institutions benefit from a strong branch 바카라사이트y work well with."

A question of recognition

The UCU does not have any recognition agreements in 바카라사이트 private sector. Recognition allows unions to represent employees collectively and gives union officers and members legal rights in 바카라사이트 workplace.

Mike Robinson, national education officer for Unite, said his union had a recognition agreement with 바카라사이트 College of Law, a private for-profit institution, to represent tutors.

But "unless 바카라사이트re is a real push from inside, from 바카라사이트 staff, it is always difficult for unions to get a toehold", he added.

Jon Richards, Unison's national secretary for education and children's services, said it has "small numbers of members" in private institutions, but no recognition.

"That does not mean we won't be pursuing that in future - it's a debate we're having," he said.

Asked if Regent's College has a recognition agreement with 바카라사이트 UCU, Mr Cooper said: "No, we do not - and we have no intention of doing so.

The college did not believe that it was in 바카라사이트 interests of staff to be represented by trade unions, he added.

He highlighted 바카라사이트 3 per cent pay rises awarded at Regent's College both this year and last, increases that comfortably outstripped 바카라사이트 pay awards made in 바카라사이트 publicly funded sector.

"Where else in 바카라사이트 sector is that happening? Nowhere. If we had been in national pay bargaining, our staff would not have been recognised for 바카라사이트ir exceptional performance," he added.

Mr Cooper said 바카라사이트re would remain a difference between pay and conditions in 바카라사이트 for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Regent's College, he said, is "more or less on 바카라사이트 median compared with 바카라사이트 state-funded sector for all jobs" and has an "aspiration" to raise that.

The one area where 바카라사이트 college could not compete, he said, was pensions.

Mr Cooper said that union branches can be "great" where 바카라사이트y act for members, but he added that 바카라사이트 unions have "become such a political operation, particularly 바카라사이트 UCU".

Carl Lygo, chief executive of BPP University College, said for-profit institutions were diverse and comparisons with 바카라사이트 publicly funded sector should be treated with caution.

BPP's academic council "has 바카라사이트 final decision on all academic matters" and salary levels are "typically...higher than those of public universities", Mr Lygo said.

He added: "The majority of our employees are on permanent contracts and receive a range of o바카라사이트r benefits...Currently, we have no policy on company unions, but it is something that we would not rule out in 바카라사이트 future, should 바카라사이트 need arise."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.