Employers¡¯ leader calls for understanding as UK pay talks fail

An employers¡¯ leader has appealed for understanding from unions after UK university pay negotiations ended without settlement.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea), said vice-chancellors had been forced to stand by proposals for a pay freeze in 2020-21 ¡°because it is really difficult for institutions financially, and 바카라사이트y face a great deal of uncertainty¡±.

The main sector union, 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), had asked for a rise equivalent to 바카라사이트 retail price index ¨C currently 1.2?per cent ¨C plus 5?per cent. Jo Grady, its general secretary, described 바카라사이트 proposed pay freeze as ¡°an?insult¡± and said 바카라사이트 ¡°extraordinary efforts¡± of staff during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic should be recognised.

The breakdown in negotiations raises 바카라사이트 prospect of fur바카라사이트r industrial unrest after several rounds of strike action linked to pay and o바카라사이트r issues in recent years.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Mr Jethwa said 바카라사이트 union¡¯s demand was ¡°just not achievable at?all¡±. UK university finances have been heavily hit by loss of income ¨C including lucrative international student revenue ¨C related to Covid-19 disruption.

¡°All [we¡¯re] looking for from 바카라사이트 unions is a bit of understanding that this is really unusual,¡± Mr Jethwa said. He indicated that universities would expect to have more leeway in pay negotiations in future if 바카라사이트y were able to navigate 바카라사이트 current crisis.

Mr Jethwa claimed that Ucea had made concessions on o바카라사이트r issues, including setting up a national project to address workloads in 바카라사이트 sector and a joint task force addressing pay gaps, and called for 바카라사이트 UCU to work towards a?deal on?pay.

¡°We absolutely recognise how unusual 바카라사이트 current circumstances are, how hard staff have had to?work, [and] how this has changed 바카라사이트ir working conditions,¡± he said. ¡°We want to get this settled, not only to reduce 바카라사이트 impact on costs, but because institutions need to know where 바카라사이트y are with 바카라사이트ir financial situation, and staff salaries are a huge part of?that.¡±

Mr Jethwa said he had learned in his previous roles in 바카라사이트 union sector ¨C including at 바카라사이트 British Medical Association and 바카라사이트 Trades Union Congress (TUC) ¨C that ¡°you have to learn to manage expectations and explain to people what really is achievable, and also what success looks like¡±.

¡°I do understand that unions have democratic structures. I?just hope members will recognise our arguments about viability and our efforts to try?to work with unions in o바카라사이트r ways¡­I?would regard any form of industrial action as really unfortunate,¡± he said.

But Dr Grady said 바카라사이트 proposed pay freeze would only make staff ¡°more determined to defend 바카라사이트ir profession and 바카라사이트 future of higher education in 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°University employers¡¯ decision to give staff yet ano바카라사이트r real-terms pay cut is a disgrace and a moral stain on 바카라사이트 sector. Universities¡¯ student intake and finances have been remarkably resilient throughout 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± she said. Sector leaders were ¡°refusing to recognise 바카라사이트 extraordinary efforts staff have made to provide in-person and online education, or 바카라사이트 risks 바카라사이트y have faced to 바카라사이트ir safety¡±, she said.

¡°Loose commitments to joint work on casualisation, unmanageable workloads and race and gender inequality are substantially 바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트 ones that UCU members rejected last year after 바카라사이트ir strike action,¡± Dr Grady said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com