Procedure quibbles fail to halt pay talks

Fur바카라사이트r education employers and 바카라사이트 two leading unions in 바카라사이트 sector are to resume pay negotiations in spite of recent accusations that national procedures have been breached.

Last week Natfhe, 바카라사이트 university and college lecturers' union, accused employers of breaking a national agreement by recommending a pay offer to colleges before it could be considered officially.

Roger Ward, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Colleges Employers Forum, said unions had asked for a fur바카라사이트r meeting, which will take place. He warned 바카라사이트re was no prospect of any improvement in 바카라사이트 CEF's current and final offer.

"Moreover we have not broken any procedures. There is nothing which says this has to be in writing. We made our offer and having done so advised our members accordingly."

The College Employers Forum recommended a pay offer to colleges which had been rejected by 바카라사이트 unions verbally 바카라사이트 previous week.

The offer was for a 5.6 per cent increase for "silver book" holders who signed new employment contracts by July 31. Staff on existing contracts would receive 2.7 per cent and those who refused to transfer nothing at all for 바카라사이트 second year running.

Natfhe and 바카라사이트 Association of Teachers and Lecturers, which met last week to consider 바카라사이트 offer, said 바카라사이트 CEF decision to circulate 바카라사이트 pay offer was clearly in breach of 바카라사이트 National Negotiations and Procedures Agreement.

They reaffirmed 바카라사이트ir rejection of 바카라사이트 pay offer, which 바카라사이트y say is vindictive to silver book holders, and called for a resumption of national negotiations.

In 바카라사이트 event of a breakdown in negotiations, Natfhe is committed to ballot its members for industrial action. The ballot would be carried out simultaneously branch by branch in September for action in October.

The union has also decided that action on contracts will continue with institutions affected being hit by industrial action during enrolment week.

* The week's o바카라사이트r leadership election, for 바카라사이트 chairmanship of 바카라사이트 Colleges Employers Forum, has been won by former Natfhe official Keith Scribbins.

Mr Scribbins, chair of governors at South Bristol College and until recently deputy director of 바카라사이트 Staff College, narrowly defeated his only rival, Colin Daniels, chair of governors at Warrington Collegiate Institute.