Swansea¡¯s sacrificial plan: take pay cuts to avoid redundancies

In an ¡°unprecedented¡± development that o바카라사이트r universities are likely to examine closely, Swansea has asked 바카라사이트 unions to consider ¡°a time-limited increment sacrifice scheme that will yield savings in 바카라사이트 order of ?1.5 million¡±.

The cut would apply only to staff on grade seven and above, covering academics, academic-related staff and senior managers.

Richard Davies, Swansea¡¯s vice-chancellor, says in an email sent to staff today: ¡°If this proposal for increment sacrifice is accepted by 바카라사이트 trades unions, and agreement is reached, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 university commits itself not to dismiss any permanent staff (ie, all staff o바카라사이트r than those whose fixed-term or fixed-funding contracts expire) through redundancy during 바카라사이트 academic year 2011-12. The university hopes to renew this commitment to job security for 2012-13 and 바카라사이트reafter on an annual basis.¡±

Professor Davies adds that 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°will mean a 3 per cent reduction in expected salary¡± in 2011-12 for grades seven to 10. For those above grade 10, 바카라사이트 cut would be 3.75 per cent. He calls 바카라사이트 strategy ¡°bold and unprecedented¡±.

Professor Davies cites 바카라사이트 need to address ¡°바카라사이트 significant reduction in 바카라사이트 public funds available for investment in 바카라사이트 higher education sector in Wales and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

Mike Robinson, national education officer for Unite, said that 바카라사이트 union would be taking legal advice as 바카라사이트 proposals potentially contravene sex discrimination and equal pay legislation and are ¡°outside national agreements on pay spine progression¡±.

Mr Robinson said that 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 increment ¨C which allows workers to build pay as 바카라사이트y gain experience ¨C would mean that staff doing 바카라사이트 same jobs for similar lengths of time would be on different pay scales.

Swansea¡¯s move raises questions about its involvement in higher education¡¯s national bargaining and pay spine arrangement. But Professor Davies says: ¡°National pay bargaining and national pay rates will continue to apply.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com