Universities offer 1 per cent pay deal for 2016-17

University staff have been offered a 1 per cent pay rise for 바카라사이트 2016-17 academic year.

The was made by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) at 바카라사이트 first of its three scheduled meetings with trade unions over pay, which took place on 22 March.

A joint trade union claim had asked for a 5 per cent rise at all points on 바카라사이트 51-point national pay spine, saying that a real-terms pay increase is ��clearly affordable�� given 바카라사이트 total surpluses of ?1.85 billion posted by 바카라사이트 sector in 2014-15.

However, according to Ucea, ��a significant number of participating higher education institutions�� have said that 바카라사이트 proposed 1 per cent offer was already ��at 바카라사이트 limit of affordability without serious implications for job losses��.

Several universities would find 바카라사이트 1 per cent award ��very challenging�� given 바카라사이트 ��backdrop of significantly increasing costs and continuing uncertainty in 바카라사이트 political, funding and policy environment��, it added.

Ucea said that its 1 per cent offer, 바카라사이트 same as this year��s final offer, was 0.7 percentage point more than 바카라사이트 0.3 per cent rate of inflation (as measured by 바카라사이트 consumer price index).

About half of employees will also be able to gain a 3 per cent pay increase on average through progression-related pay, meaning that average pay rises would be 2.6 per cent, 바카라사이트 employers group added.

Michael MacNeil, national head of bargaining and negotiations for 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), said that 바카라사이트 1 per cent ��falls short of our expectations�� and was below inflation, as measured by 바카라사이트 retail price index, which takes into account owner-occupier housing costs. This now stands at 1.3 per cent, although it is predicted to rise by up to 2.8 per cent later this year, UCU said.

��We know that 바카라사이트 current pay offer will not be acceptable to our members, and we hope to receive an improved offer at 바카라사이트 next meeting,�� he said.

The next meeting is due to take place on 28 April, followed by a final meeting on 19 May.

The UCU has also asked for a ��substantial increase�� in pay at 바카라사이트 lower end of 바카라사이트 salary scale to ensure that all staff are paid at least 바카라사이트 of ?8.25 an hour or ?9.40 a hour in London.

It is also asking for minimum rates of pay for external examiners, whose remuneration can vary massively between institutions, as well as action to close 바카라사이트 gender pay gap and to tackle casualisation within higher education �C two areas that have been subject to recent joint working between unions and employers.

Helen Fairfoul, chief executive of Ucea, said that 1 per cent was a ��very good initial offer�� given ��바카라사이트 context of increasing costs, uncertainty and financial constraint in 바카라사이트 sector��.

She cited 바카라사이트 increasing costs associated with ��pension contributions, national insurance rises and 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy�� as pressures faced by universities.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com