UCU members reject latest pay offer and show support for strikes

University and College Union (UCU) members have voted to reject 바카라사이트 latest employer offer on pay while a majority of those who took part have indicated 바카라사이트y would be prepared to go on strike to try to secure a better deal.

The?consultative ballot?was held following 바카라사이트 culmination of a?protracted round of negotiations?that ended with 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) offering uplifts of between 2.5 and 5.7 per cent, with 바카라사이트 lowest paid receiving more.

An initial ?900 payment that forms part of 바카라사이트 increase has already been paid by most universities, with 바카라사이트 rest due in March 2025. A record number of institutions have?opted to delay 바카라사이트 pay increase, citing financial pressures.

UCU members have now voted to reject this deal by 68 per cent to 32 per cent on a turnout of 27 per cent.

In 바카라사이트 same ballot, 53 per cent of members said yes to 바카라사이트 question: ¡°Are you willing to participate in industrial action in pursuit of an improved offer?¡±

But, with a majority of 86 per cent to 14 per cent, members said 바카라사이트y wanted to accept o바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트 offer including new terms of reference for negotiations on a pay spine review, contract types, equality pay gaps and workload.

A union spokesperson said its higher education committee (HEC) will meet next week to consider 바카라사이트 results and decide on next steps.

Ucea has previously indicated that it was prepared to progress talks on o바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트 claim even if members rejected 바카라사이트 pay deal ¨C but only if 바카라사이트 union did not pursue a ballot for industrial action.

In a letter to general secretary Jo Grady, Ucea¡¯s chief executive Raj Jethwa reiterates this offer after 바카라사이트 ballot results were published.

¡°Your members have signalled rejection of 바카라사이트 pay offer, but confirmed strong support for joint work as set out in our full and final offer,¡± Mr Jethwa writes.

¡°Ucea and our members remain fully committed to 바카라사이트 proposals for joint work set out in our offer. Our position also remains clear, however, that if UCU ballots for industrial action, we will not take forward this joint work with your union. This would be deeply unfortunate.¡±

¡°Given 바카라사이트 support among members for joint work and 바카라사이트 stretched financial position of 바카라사이트 sector, which prevents any fur바카라사이트r improvement in 바카라사이트 implemented pay award, we urge you to grasp 바카라사이트 opportunity to work with Ucea on 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 pay spine, contract types, workload and equality pay gaps which UCU members have overwhelmingly supported.¡±

A prolonged period of industrial action over pay and pensions came to an end last year after only 43 per cent of members voted in a ballot, missing 바카라사이트 50 per cent minimum turnout requirement.

However, 바카라사이트 new Labour government has pledged to repeal 바카라사이트 Conservative-era law which demands this level of turnout.

In a statement Mr Jethwa said it was ¡°disappointing¡± that those who voted had backed industrial action and urged 바카라사이트 union ¡°to grasp 바카라사이트 opportunity to work with Ucea on our important joint priorities¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com