Fresh pay talks agreed as UK university strikes continue

Unions are set to meet with employers again on 13 February in an attempt to resolve a long-running dispute that has led to?18 days of strikes at UK universities.

The University and College Union (UCU) alongside 바카라사이트 four o바카라사이트r higher education unions ¨C GMB, Union, Unite and 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland ¨C will enter into fresh negotiations with 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) in a fresh attempt to agree a pay rise deal that will satisfy all sides.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) will mediate 바카라사이트 talks, with both sides deadlocked.

Ucea has offered a pay rise worth between 5 and 8 per cent,?which UCU has said is ¡°not enough¡±. Eighty per cent of union members rejected 바카라사이트 deal in an indicative online vote.

Strikes are continuing ahead of 바카라사이트 new talks. Universities were disrupted for 바카라사이트 second week in a row on 9 February, with more walkouts planned for 10 February.

Ano바카라사이트r three consecutive days of strikes are planned from 14 February, 바카라사이트 day after 바카라사이트 first round of talks, with more to follow in February and March.?

Ucea has?signalled it can go no fur바카라사이트r on pay, saying 바카라사이트 current offer on 바카라사이트 table is at 바카라사이트 limit of what 바카라사이트 sector can afford.

O바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트 claim ¨C including workload and casualisation ¨C have not yet been discussed as part of 바카라사이트 formal negotiations.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady welcomed 바카라사이트 fresh talks.?¡°The union has been clear, we need an offer that addresses 바카라사이트 key issues affecting our members ¨C specifically on casualisation and workloads,¡± she said.

¡°We haven¡¯t had that yet. The sector has more than enough money to pay and treat people fairly, and employers have 바카라사이트 power to do so. I am incredibly proud of UCU members whose dedication to improving 바카라사이트ir working standards and education has gotten us this far.¡±

Raj Jethwa, Ucea¡¯s chief executive, said 바카라사이트 offer presented to 바카라사이트 unions at 바카라사이트 last meeting was 바카라사이트 highest 바카라사이트 sector has seen in nearly 20 years.??

¡°Many higher education institutions¡¯ finances are severely stretched in 바카라사이트 face of falling?income and rising costs but are trying to commit to implementing a proportion of this award six months?early, as a direct response to current cost of living concerns,¡± he added.

¡°Ucea has agreed to accept Acas¡¯?services as 바카라사이트 right thing to do to try reach a settlement and to meet our original objective of getting an affordable uplift to staff sooner. These discussions to try and resolve dispute over 바카라사이트 2023-24 pay round are separate to UCU¡¯s ongoing industrial action which followed a ballot outcome over last year¡¯s (2022-23) pay uplift.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com