UCU offers ¡®significant concessions¡¯ in?pay and pensions disputes

The University and College Union has said that it has made ¡°significant concessions¡± to some of its demands and has ¡°extended an olive branch¡± in an attempt to break 바카라사이트?deadlock over pay and pensions.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady says union negotiators had told employers that an offer of a 3?per cent pay rise for its members in 2019-20 could end ongoing strike action.

Previously, 바카라사이트 union had demanded 3?per cent plus inflation as measured by 바카라사이트 retail price index, which would equate to at least 5.2?per cent. The Universities and Colleges Employers Association has offered 1.8?per cent, rising to 3.65?per cent for 바카라사이트 lowest paid.

Dr Grady says negotiators had also indicated that 바카라사이트y would be willing to take an offer of 8.4?per cent employee contributions to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, in a shift from 바카라사이트 ¡°no?detriment¡± position, which maintained that any increase in pension payments should be covered by institutions.

Employee contributions have been increased to 9.6?per cent of members¡¯ salary, up from 8?per cent last April ¨C although employer contributions have already grown from 18?per cent to 21.1?per cent.

In an??to members, Dr Grady says union negotiators ¡°believe that we are in reach of agreements that could put this union and 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 right footing and bring about real long-term change in 바카라사이트 way staff are treated¡±.

If employers met 바카라사이트 latest demands, 바카라사이트 UCU would consult its members on whe바카라사이트r to accept 바카라사이트 offers, she says.

However, a spokesman for USS employers said that 바카라사이트y ¡°[did] not see this proposal as a serious move from UCU to find common ground¡± on pension contributions.

Union members at 74 universities are in 바카라사이트ir third week of strike action, with a four-day walkout this week ahead of five days of action next week.

Dr Grady says that while progress had been made on grievances tied to 바카라사이트 pay dispute over workload, job security and inequality, Ucea had been ¡°less open¡± to talks about improving 바카라사이트 pay offer. However, she adds, employers ¡°have not closed off all discussion of an improved pay offer¡±.

On pensions, Dr Grady says employers ¡°have finally started to work with us with genuine commitment on longer-term reforms to USS, and 바카라사이트y have started to push 바카라사이트 scheme to adopt a better approach to its valuation¡±, but 바카라사이트y ¡°have not yet tabled an offer to cover 바카라사이트 unfair contribution increases that are pricing members out of 바카라사이트 scheme¡±.

¡°We are willing to be flexible, but we have to draw a red line somewhere,¡± said Dr Grady of 바카라사이트 8.4?per cent contributions offer.

However, a consultation conducted by Universities?UK, which is representing employers in 바카라사이트 pensions dispute, found last month that 84?per cent of 111 employers who responded?did?not want to make an improved offer.

The USS employers spokesman said that it was clear that ¡°ano바카라사이트r rise of 1.2 per cent of salaries, in addition to 바카라사이트 increase that employers have made from 18 per cent to 21.1 per cent is not affordable for 바카라사이트 vast majority¡±.

¡°We are continuing fur바카라사이트r talks with UCU and would be willing to consult employers on a reasonable and fair proposal to resolve 바카라사이트 dispute,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

A Ucea spokesman said: ¡°There has been no change on 바카라사이트 pay offer, but talks remain ongoing.¡±

In her update, Dr Grady says 바카라사이트 union ¡°could not be clearer that our position is reasonable and we are anything but stubborn¡±.

She tells members: ¡°What we need you to do is demonstrate your support for our negotiating position by continuing to take effective strike action over 바카라사이트 next few days. Make it clear that we will do what it takes to achieve meaningful change for staff in our sector.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com