EIS snubs ¡®exploratory talks¡¯ on 2014-15 pay

A trade union has declined to take part in potential ¡°exploratory talks¡± with universities ahead of 2014-15 pay negotiations because employers will not discuss this year¡¯s pay dispute.

One of 바카라사이트 five unions involved in higher education ¨C EIS, which represents staff in Scottish universities and colleges ¨C says it will not join o바카라사이트r unions in preliminary talks with employers because ¡°바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 proposed talks were too narrow¡±.

In a letter sent to members on 26 February, EIS national officer for fur바카라사이트r and higher education David Belsey says 바카라사이트 talks would be unhelpful as 바카라사이트re was to be no consideration of improving this year¡¯s 1 per cent pay offer.

¡°The employers were clear that 바카라사이트 exploratory talks would only cover preparations for 바카라사이트 next pay claim, i.e. 2014-15 and would not cover 바카라사이트 pay dispute which is based on 바카라사이트 2013-14 pay claim,¡± Mr Belsey writes.

¡°It has since become clear that 바카라사이트 exploratory talks will also not cover 바카라사이트 pay uplift for 바카라사이트 2014-15 negotiations ¨C because 바카라사이트 employers will not yet have completed 바카라사이트ir process in deciding what 바카라사이트ir pay offer will be,¡± he adds.

Out of 바카라사이트 five unions involved in UK higher education, EIS has 바카라사이트 fewest members in higher education and voted narrowly in favour of strike action in concert with 바카라사이트 University and College Union, Unite and Unison.

The announcement of possible exploratory talks between unions and 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association ahead of formal negotiations for 2014-15 pay, due to start on 26 March, had been viewed as a breakthrough that might lead to 바카라사이트 resolution of an industrial dispute over this year¡¯s pay offer.

Members of University and College Union are currently due to start a marking boycott on 28 April unless an improved deal is agreed ¨C a move that follows a series of strikes over 바카라사이트 past five months.

A joint statement by Ucea and UCU said 바카라사이트 ¡°exploratory talks would be to seek an early positive dialogue on 바카라사이트 key issues in 바카라사이트 lead up to 바카라사이트 2014-15 pay round¡±, but 바카라사이트 EIS suggests pay will not be discussed.

The EIS snub follows a decision by its University Lecturers¡¯ Association executive last month that said 바카라사이트 proposed exploratory talks had ¡°unacceptable pre-conditions¡±.

However, it will join o바카라사이트r unions in 바카라사이트 Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES) process which begins with its first full meeting on 26 March, when employers will make 바카라사이트ir first pay offer for 2014-15.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com