UCU postpones marking boycott after new pay offer

Following talks on pay for 바카라사이트 2014-15 academic year, held yesterday, 바카라사이트 UCU said it would postpone 바카라사이트 boycott ¨C due to start on 28 April ¨C to 6 May to allow for a ballot of members.

The boycott ¨C and a series of strikes held since October ¨C are part of an ongoing dispute over a pay offer of 1 per cent for 바카라사이트 current academic year.

However, although 바카라사이트 latest offer is for 바카라사이트 2014-15 academic year, it is thought UCU members may be asked if it can be viewed as a way to resolve 바카라사이트 dispute.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: ¡°Following this offer, UCU has decided to ballot members on 바카라사이트ir views. It is?only right that 바카라사이트y make 바카라사이트 ultimate decision about what happens next.¡±

According to 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which negotiates pay on behalf of higher education institutions, its ¡°full and final pay offer¡± is ¡°substantial¡± and exceeds 바카라사이트 current rate of inflation as measured by 바카라사이트 consumer price index.

The offer also includes an increase of 2.2 per cent to 바카라사이트 lowest point on its 51-point pay scale and an offer to examine 바카라사이트 use and usefulness of that pay point ¨C which equated to ?7.48 an hour in 2013-14.

It said 바카라사이트 proposed increase will ¡°bring 바카라사이트 vast majority of staff in 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 lowest points of 바카라사이트 pay scale to rates equivalent to or above 바카라사이트 Living Wage¡±, which is ?7.65 outside London and ?8.80 within 바카라사이트 capital.

It added that many universities already paid in excess of 바카라사이트 Living Wage and provided generous sickness, holiday and pension benefits not included in 바카라사이트 Living Wage calculations.

Chris Gaskell, principal of 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural College and a representative of Ucea¡¯s negotiation team, said 바카라사이트 meeting on 15 April had been ¡°constructive¡±, with ¡°both sides exploring all options and seeking realistic outcomes that can be acceptable to all¡±.

¡°The employers have made a substantial final pay offer of 2 per cent on all pay points with a commitment to discuss fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r important elements of 바카라사이트 claim,¡± said Professor Gaskell.

He called on union members to ¡°consider carefully 바카라사이트 real value of 바카라사이트 offer being made¡±.

¡°All in 바카라사이트 sector share an aim to conclude this year¡¯s negotiations successfully and draw a line under last year¡¯s dispute,¡± he added.

However, 바카라사이트 2 per cent uplift may not be enough to placate unions, which claim a series of below-inflation offers have resulted in a 13 per cent pay cut in real terms since 2009.

Employers have claimed 바카라사이트 current offer is ¡°at 바카라사이트 limits of affordability¡± and seeks?to ¡°reward 바카라사이트ir much valued and hard-working staff this year¡±, while 바카라사이트y also say just 5 per cent of staff took part in strike action in October, with support waning in subsequent actions.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com