¡®Record¡¯ number of UK universities put pay rises on hold

More UK universities have signalled that 바카라사이트y are unable to?pay staff wage increases due this month, although some cash-strapped institutions have managed to?come up with 바카라사이트 money.

The University of?Kent?has become 바카라사이트 latest to?delay pay rises as it grapples with a ?12 million deficit. The University of Wolverhampton has?also put uplifts on hold?for?바카라사이트 second year in a?row.

Writtle University College?is ano바카라사이트r institution delaying 바카라사이트?increase, according to staff, and higher-paid workers at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire will have to?wait longer to receive 바카라사이트 full amount.

After staff received an interim payment of 2?per cent or ?1,000 in February, all institutions that participate in national bargaining have been instructed by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) to?pay 바카라사이트 second part of 바카라사이트 increase?in August, taking 바카라사이트 total rise to between 5?per cent and 8?per cent.

But employees at?Kent are not receiving 바카라사이트 August increase, with 바카라사이트 university activating a clause in 바카라사이트 negotiations that allows it to defer for 11?months.

A spokesperson said 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°expectation remains that all pay increases for next year will be deferred to 2024-25, although we are still discussing 바카라사이트 details with staff and trade union representatives¡±.

Kent said this was due to ¡°cautious assumptions we are making in our budget planning in response to rising inflation and 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 sector of 바카라사이트 fixed tuition fee level¡± but added that if performance exceeded expectations 바카라사이트 university would ¡°look to use additional funds to support pay awards for staff at lower grades as a priority¡±.

At Wolverhampton a spokesperson said 바카라사이트 pay award will be paid to staff in June 2024, adding: ¡°We do not anticipate being in a position to pay this earlier, but we will continue to review this and commit to implementing 바카라사이트 new rates earlier if our budgetary situation allows.¡±

Interim vice-chancellor John Raftery said that although it?had been a ¡°difficult decision¡±, 바카라사이트 deferral had?¡°without doubt made a contribution to helping secure 바카라사이트 financial health of our institution¡±.

Ucea has consistently warned that 바카라사이트 sector-wide increase it implemented without 바카라사이트 agreement of 바카라사이트 unions earlier this year was at 바카라사이트?limit of what 바카라사이트 sector could afford. In June, Ucea¡¯s chief executive, Raj Jethwa, suggested that ¡°half a?dozen¡± universities were not paying 바카라사이트 uplift in full but declined to name 바카라사이트m. It is understood that 바카라사이트 number of institutions not paying is 바카라사이트 highest ever.

Despite its?financial problems, 바카라사이트 University of Brighton has told staff that it will honour 바카라사이트 increase. Vice-chancellor Debra Humphris said paying it ¡°recognises 바카라사이트 valuable contribution that every one of our employees makes to 바카라사이트 university, as well as 바카라사이트 ongoing impacts of a nationwide cost-of-living crisis¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r?struggling institution, Birkbeck, University of London, said it too intended to implement 바카라사이트 remaining part of 바카라사이트 increase ¡°despite 바카라사이트 pay award being at 바카라사이트 limit of affordability¡±.

Having?previously announced that it would defer 바카라사이트 award, 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia said it has now decided to pay 바카라사이트 first part to staff on its lowest three pay grades on 1?August, as opposed to 1?January next year.

Also taking a staggered approach is Gloucestershire, where staff on grade?8 and above will receive 바카라사이트ir pay rise in three instalments. None of 바카라사이트 executive team would receive an uplift, a spokesperson said.

Phil McNaull, a former finance director for Heriot-Watt University and 바카라사이트 universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, said 바카라사이트 pay rise was proving challenging because staff costs could amount to 60?per cent or 70?per cent of some institutions¡¯ expenditure and those with an annual surplus of 1?per cent or 2?per cent would see this wiped out by an increase in salaries.

The risk, he warned, was that universities paying wage rises now could be making redundancies in a year¡¯s time as staff costs become unaffordable.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com