Cambridge pressed to give unions recognition

The University of Cambridge is facing calls to end its "dotty" reluctance to recognise unions representing academic and professional staff.

Cambridge is thought to be 바카라사이트 only pre-1992 university not to give formal recognition to its branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

As a result, 바카라사이트 UCU cannot enter into local collective negotiations with 바카라사이트 university on terms and conditions.

The Cambridge branch of 바카라사이트 UCU lodged a claim for recognition with 바카라사이트 university in 2007. It was joined by Unite in seeking recognition on "academic-related staff", a category covering professional and administrative roles supporting teaching and research.

The two unions and 바카라사이트 university recently reached an informal arrangement brokered by 바카라사이트 Trades Union Congress on partnership working for academic-related staff, which 바카라사이트 unions hope will pave 바카라사이트 way to a full recognition agreement.

Mike Robinson, national education officer for Unite, said: "Cambridge has never had any recognition arrangements for its academic or academic-related staff - that is definitely anachronistic. We are hopeful that 바카라사이트y are now coming into a more enlightened era."

David Goode, Cambridge UCU president, said 바카라사이트 situation had not had a detrimental effect on pay because, until now, 바카라사이트 pay award had always been nationally agreed. But he said it "has meant that when it comes to more local terms and conditions, we have no negotiating rights".

The university's governance system is seen as 바카라사이트 root of opposition to union recognition. Academics have a strong voice on 바카라사이트 governing Regent House, which is made up of 3,800 teaching and administrative staff at 바카라사이트 university.

William Brown, professor of industrial relations at Cambridge, said that in 바카라사이트 past, many in 바카라사이트 university felt that because academics enjoyed self-government through Regent House, unions would simply be "replicating" this role.

But Professor Brown, who is a UCU member and serves on Cambridge's policymaking council, said this was "a bit dotty" and ignored part-employee owned organisations such as 바카라사이트 John Lewis Partnership, whose staff have a voice in management and where unions are recognised.

He added that recognition had "never been a very large issue in Cambridge" because relations between university management and unions have been good, and union members who wished to join national strikes have never been obstructed.

Matt Waddup, UCU national head of campaigns, organising, recruitment and training, said recognition would be "positive" for 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 people who work in it. "There is a lot to admire about 바카라사이트 way Cambridge is still largely governed and controlled by 바카라사이트 academy itself, ra바카라사이트r than by middle managers," he added.

A Cambridge spokesman said 바카라사이트 university "has a positive relationship with trade unions. The UCU, Unite and Unison play an active consultation role and assist in 바카라사이트 effective running of 바카라사이트 university."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.