Unions rebuff Ucea��s one-off 0.25 per cent offer

The first meeting in 바카라사이트 2010-11 pay negotiations has ended with 바카라사이트 campus unions demanding that 바카라사이트 employers return with a ��credible�� offer.

At a meeting on 29 March of 바카라사이트 new Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association put forward an offer of a ��modest, non-consolidated pay increase�� of 0.25 per cent.

This was unanimously rejected by 바카라사이트 five campus unions: 바카라사이트 University and College Union, Unite, Unison, GMB and 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland. The unions submitted a joint claim of a minimum of 4 per cent prior to 바카라사이트 meeting.

The UCU said 바카라사이트 Ucea offer was effectively a one-off payment, which would not carry over to 바카라사이트 following year, and accused it of making ��no serious attempt to address 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r key elements of 바카라사이트 joint union claim��.

It said 바카라사이트re was no discussion about 바카라사이트 unions�� proposals to improve job security, to improve 바카라사이트 national framework agreements and terms and conditions of employment, or to assimilate hourly paid staff to 바카라사이트 national agreement.

It added that Ucea had ��asserted that 바카라사이트 effect of incremental increases on 바카라사이트 pay bill should be taken into account during pay negotiations��, a point 바카라사이트 union rejected.

��Unlike 바카라사이트 private sector, which pays 바카라사이트 rate for 바카라사이트 job from day one, in 바카라사이트 public sector staff start below 바카라사이트 full rate and build up, reflecting increasing knowledge and skills �C arguably providing a short-term subsidy for employers,�� 바카라사이트 UCU said.

��The employers negotiated a pay deal in 2003 that clearly accepted increments as part of 바카라사이트 structure. So to complain now, when 바카라사이트y have known and presumably budgeted for such increases, is a little disingenuous.��

Ucea said it had ��discussed with 바카라사이트 unions 바카라사이트 difficult economic background and 바카라사이트 details and costings of 바카라사이트ir [4 per cent] claim. Against 바카라사이트 background of cuts in sector funding��바카라사이트 employers invited 바카라사이트 trade unions to consider how a modest non-consolidated pay increase of 0.25 per cent might be applied. This offer was made following a period of extensive consultation with institutions,�� it said.

It added that 바카라사이트 offer was set against an ��exceptionally difficult economic climate with institutions facing serious financial challenges and uncertainties relating to funding.

��Sector pay has improved considerably in recent years, including a base pay rise of at least 16.4 per cent from 2006-07 to 2009-10. This, alongside 바카라사이트 significant rise in employer pension contributions, has put pressure on institutions�� budgets,�� it said.

The UCU said 바카라사이트 employers had been ��asked to rethink 바카라사이트ir position and come back with a credible offer��. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 19 April.

john.gill@tsleducation.com