Stalemate: strike ballot looms, but pay rise too

The University and College Union remains on course for national strike ballots after failing to achieve breakthroughs on jobs, pay and pensions.

Despite 바카라사이트 union's failure to reach a deal with employers on pay, 바카라사이트 sector's staff may finally see this year's rise in 바카라사이트ir bank accounts.

At a meeting with 바카라사이트 sector's five unions last week, higher education employers refused to up 바카라사이트ir offer of a 0.4 per cent pay rise for 2010-11.

The GMB, Unison and Unite have accepted 바카라사이트 offer.

The Educational Institute of Scotland again rejected 바카라사이트 offer, as did 바카라사이트 UCU, which also wants 바카라사이트 employers to offer a national deal on avoiding redundancies.

Universities are growing impatient over pay - talks began in March 2010 - and want to settle 바카라사이트ir budgets before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 financial year.

Both union and employer sources suggested that individual universities are likely to pay staff 바카라사이트 rise, backdated to 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 academic year.

The UCU will start a ballot for strike action over pay and jobs on 2 February.

The latest round of talks on 바카라사이트 0.4 per cent offer came amid reports of large pay rises for vice-chancellors in 2009-10: vice-chancellors in three-quarters of 바카라사이트 87 universities examined enjoyed increases in 바카라사이트ir pay and benefits, some as high as 20 per cent.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 UCU, said: "Higher education staff are taking a real-terms pay cut for a second year and vice-chancellors want a pay freeze for 바카라사이트 third...Every year we hear that pay at 바카라사이트 top will be addressed, but it never is."

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 UCU is still set for ano바카라사이트r strike ballot on 2 February over proposed changes to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

The union said "concessions" on 바카라사이트 employers' plans were "not enough" to avert 바카라사이트 threat of industrial action.

At a meeting last week after a consultation with members, 바카라사이트 scheme's governing trustees recommended revisions on only two points: 바카라사이트 level of inflation caps for pension increases and pensions in deferment, and 바카라사이트 ban on people rejoining 바카라사이트 final-salary section after more than six months out.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.