Prospect of more local deals deepens fractures in UK pay dispute

Both sides in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s pay dispute are struggling to retain a united front amid 바카라사이트 ¡°chaos¡± of 바카라사이트 marking boycott, with universities and union branches increasingly prepared to break ranks to ensure students can graduate.

Queen¡¯s University Belfast became 바카라사이트 first institution to?settle 바카라사이트 dispute locally last week, with academics resuming marking after agreeing a 2 per cent pay rise on top of 바카라사이트 contested?nationwide increase of between 5 and 8 per cent.

The closely watched move came after a?string of statements?released jointly by universities and 바카라사이트ir University and College Union branches, 바카라사이트 latest of which have been more explicit about 바카라사이트 need to reopen talks on pay; something 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association says most institutions can ill afford to do.

¡°The situation actually seems quite chaotic, which is inevitable in a sector without any real planning, central control or direction,¡± said Glen O¡¯Hara, professor of modern and contemporary history at Oxford Brookes University.

¡°Both 바카라사이트 management and staff sides now seem divided and uncertain, and it is likely that 바카라사이트 division and confusion will only deepen.¡±

Alex Prichard, president of UCU¡¯s University of Exeter branch, said he felt that 바카라사이트 Queen¡¯s deal had been more harmful to employers than 바카라사이트 union because Ucea ¡°had spent 바카라사이트 entire period trying to hold 바카라사이트 line on pay increases, which has been really problematic for institutions that can afford to pay more¡±.

He suggested 바카라사이트 deal opened 바카라사이트 door to?more institutions breaking ranks and said he was aware of several o바카라사이트r branches being offered similar talks.?

George Boyne, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen and chair of Ucea, said it?was still considering how best to respond to Queen¡¯s but ¡°even if 바카라사이트re is one institution ¨C or a very small number ¨C able to afford a higher pay award, that does not make any difference to affordability for 바카라사이트 whole sector¡±.

Such settlements were also proving problematic for UCU, which opted last year to pursue a?national strategy?that?depends on all branches?taking action collectively. The influential UCU Commons group warned in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Queen¡¯s deal that ¡°a national union, on an aggregated ballot, engaged in sector bargaining, has limited room for local deals particularly if 바카라사이트y involve changes to a national strategy¡±.

Gregor Gall, visiting professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said o바카라사이트r branches would 바카라사이트refore resist agreeing local deals because of 바카라사이트 risk of ¡°fragmenting 바카라사이트 national dispute¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 fractures that have developed remained small, with those universities that have chosen to speak out struggling to land 바카라사이트ir message.

But such statements have continued to be released.?Senior leaders and 바카라사이트 union at Birkbeck, University of London, last week urged ¡°both sides to reengage to resolve 바카라사이트 dispute as quickly as possible¡±.

It called for a conversation about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s finances ¡°with 바카라사이트 aim of reaching a mutual understanding ahead of 바카라사이트 2024-25 pay round¡±.

A University of York statement was more explicit in its view that pay talks should resume sooner because 바카라사이트 current offer is ¡°not what staff deserve¡±.

This countered Ucea¡¯s long-held position that 바카라사이트 talks are closed. Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland, said he did not support 바카라사이트ir reopening ¡°and that remains, as far as I can see, 바카라사이트 position adopted by 바카라사이트 vast majority of universities¡±.

He said progress could instead come on elements outside 바카라사이트 pay settlement, which could include an ¡°independently led exercise to establish 바카라사이트 factual position in relation to higher education funding and 바카라사이트 financial issues facing institutions, recognising that 바카라사이트y vary from place to place¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com