Ucea kicks off pay talks with 0.5 per cent offer

The below-inflation offer comes at 바카라사이트 start of negotiations between 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers¡¯ Association and 바카라사이트 five trade unions involved in higher education over a 2013-14 pay deal.

Talks, which began on 23 April, will continue throughout April and May.

However, 바카라사이트 opening offer from universities was immediately branded ¡°disappointing¡± by 바카라사이트 University and College Union, which represents academic staff and senior administrators.

¡°As an opening gambit, this is very disappointing from 바카라사이트 employers and represents a fourth year of pay cuts,¡± said Michael MacNeil, UCU head of higher education.

¡°Staff costs fell again in 2012 and institutions¡¯ reserves are strong,¡± he added.

¡°As inflation continues to rise and vice-chancellors continue to enjoy inflation-busting pay rises 바카라사이트 employers need to come back with a serious offer.¡±

Unions have asked for a percentage increase of at least 바카라사이트 Retail Price Index (3.2 per cent in February) plus an additional unspecified percentage to cover previous below-inflation rises. They have also called for improvements to 바카라사이트 salaries of lower-paid staff to match 바카라사이트 Living Wage and an increase in London weighting.

A similar inflation plus ¡°catch-up pay¡± claim last year for 2012-13 was initially met with a 0.5 per cent pay offer, with unions eventually settling for 1 per cent after a ballot of members failed to support full strike action.

This year, employers said 바카라사이트y could only afford a 0.5 per cent pay increase because higher education institutions face a challenging and uncertain funding environment.?

The issue of London weighting should be determined by individual institutions, while many universities already paid higher than 바카라사이트 Living Wage once sickness, holiday and pension benefits were included, Ucea said.

Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of City University and chairman of Ucea:? ¡°At this early stage of 바카라사이트 negotiations both sides are exploring 바카라사이트 pay and pay-related elements of 바카라사이트 claim in more detail but this is being done within 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 wide-ranging and on-going financial pressures and uncertainty across 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°The employers valued today¡¯s constructive discussions.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com