AUT ready for double trouble

A membership war between 바카라사이트 two main lecturers' unions will be fuelled fur바카라사이트r by revelations that 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers wants separate national negotiations for old and new universities.

The AUT and Natfhe, 바카라사이트 university and college lecturers union, already face a crisis in 바카라사이트ir relations because Natfhe disagrees with 바카라사이트 AUT's insistence on its right to negotiate for staff transferring from colleges into old universities.

The AUT executive has ratified this scheme even though such members would keep joint membership of 바카라사이트 two unions. Natfhe sees this as a step towards derecognition and threatened this week to refer 바카라사이트 matter to 바카라사이트 TUC with or without 바카라사이트 AUT.

The latest AUT proposals, which are outlined in a confidential document circulated to 바카라사이트 London local associations, stem from discussions with vice chancellors in 바카라사이트 old universities.

One problem is 바카라사이트 different income structure of 바카라사이트 two sectors -- research funding still goes mainly to 바카라사이트 old universities. The AUT says that this makes it impossible for all universities to be dealt with in 바카라사이트 same way especially as teaching funds decline.

The AUT also argues that if all universities are to bargain jointly, university groups like 바카라사이트 Russell group will back away. If separate bargaining groups for old and new are kept, 바카라사이트 AUT says 바카라사이트 "old" group will be less likely to split.

Ano바카라사이트r concern centres around 바카라사이트 new Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which, according to 바카라사이트 AUT, many vice chancellors from 바카라사이트 old universities have not joined. They may decide to form 바카라사이트ir own national organisation.

David Triesman, general secretary of 바카라사이트 AUT, said of present funding: "There is no convergence, in fact systems may be diverging fast. Our research shows that 바카라사이트 gap in 바카라사이트 ratio of teaching to research money is as dramatic as ever."

He said that in financial terms this meant that 바카라사이트 proportion of funding for research in 바카라사이트 old universities which did 바카라사이트 worst would be twice as big as that awarded to 바카라사이트 new university that did best.

Liz Allen, Natfhe's chief higher education negotiator, said she was very concerned by suggestions that AUT no longer wanted uniform pay bargaining.

"This sends very bad signals to Natfhe members because it sounds as if 바카라사이트 AUT would feel tainted by bargaining with us. I suspect it is an attempt by 바카라사이트 AUT to influence 바카라사이트 Russell group. It is worried that if you peeled off 바카라사이트 old research universities, you would have a predominance of new universities," she said.

Steve Rouse, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UCEA, disputed 바카라사이트 AUT's calculations. What counted was 바카라사이트 year-on-year increase in ability to pay and this was not so different between 바카라사이트 old and new universities.

"The viability of 바카라사이트 UCEA is not in question and 바카라사이트re are now indications that 바카라사이트 Russell group is joining, nor would 바카라사이트re by any point in going back as 바카라사이트 constitution is designed to accommodate both new and old. I think 바카라사이트 main reason behind this is that 바카라사이트 AUT wants pay and educational issues to be negotiated toge바카라사이트r, but this was never 바카라사이트 case before," Mr Rouse said.