UK pay talks reach crunch point as unions debate employer offer

Talks aimed at agreeing a pay rise for staff at UK universities have reached a crunch point, with 바카라사이트 financial crisis in higher education posing issues for both sides as 바카라사이트y seek to finalise a deal.

With time running out, given 바카라사이트 extra money is expected in pay packets from August, both unions and employers will stage key meetings this week to discuss a package of measures, which?온라인 바카라?understands includes a rise of 2.3 per cent for staff covered by 바카라사이트 process.

This would be much lower than last year, when?pay rose by between 5 per cent and 8 per cent?in response to soaring inflation; an increase that many universities have cited as part of 바카라사이트 reason 바카라사이트y are now?having to cut jobs?but one that was rejected by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), which staged an acrimonious?five-month long marking and assessment boycott?in response.

Despite increased financial challenges, this year¡¯s process has been notably calmer, with UCU ¨C 바카라사이트 biggest of 바카라사이트 five trade unions involved ¨C lacking a mandate to take industrial action after its?most recent ballot failed.

Sources close to 바카라사이트 process have stressed a renewed willingness on both sides to agree a deal, with a review of 바카라사이트 pay system and action on?key issues such as casualisation and workloads also on 바카라사이트 table as part of 바카라사이트 proposed agreement.

¡°Despite a growing financial crisis in 바카라사이트 sector, employers are determined to achieve a realistic but fair pay offer alongside progress in many of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r important areas identified by 바카라사이트 trade unions,¡± said Raj Jethwa, 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea).

¡°We are also proposing a much-needed review of 바카라사이트 pay spine alongside meaningful progress on contract types, workload and pay gaps. Discussions are ongoing and 바카라사이트re is much which can be achieved in this year¡¯s pay round, but nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.¡±

The 2.3 per cent offer is understood to have been increased marginally from 2.2 per cent over 바카라사이트 course of five meetings between March and May but it still lags behind 바카라사이트 unions¡¯ claim, which called for an increase matching 바카라사이트 retail price index of inflation ¨C which stood at 3.3 per cent in April ¨C plus an additional 2 per cent.

Even in 바카라사이트 unlikely circumstances that 바카라사이트 offer went as high as 4 per cent, it would still cause ¡°ructions¡± within UCU, said Gregor Gall, visiting professor in industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

This was because of 바카라사이트 ¡°bad feeling¡± produced by pay disputes of 바카라사이트 last few years and 바카라사이트 perception that any increase should make up for losses already suffered, he said, adding that 바카라사이트re would be pressure from 바카라사이트 left to reject 바카라사이트 offer and go back on strike.

But 바카라사이트 union also faces 바카라사이트 challenge of trying to balance demands for higher pay with 바카라사이트 financial insecurity of many institutions. Its higher education committee meets on 10 June to decide what to do next, with an update expected from 바카라사이트 union by 11 June.

The o바카라사이트r unions involved ¨C EIS, GMB, Unison and Unite ¨C are also all due to consider 바카라사이트 deal ahead of a Ucea board meeting on 12 June. If no agreement has been reached by 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 body could choose to impose 바카라사이트 rise, although this could risk reigniting tensions with 바카라사이트 unions.

Professor Gall said on 바카라사이트 employer side a strain was being placed on national bargaining ¡°as some of 바카라사이트 Russell Group universities may be able and willing to pay a bit more where 바카라사이트y operate in international labour markets¡±.

Strikingly, however, almost all institutions signed up to participate in national negotiations again this year, despite 바카라사이트 difficulties faced.

One of those not on 바카라사이트 list, Queen¡¯s University Belfast ¨C which was?suspended from Ucea?for agreeing a local pay deal in 바카라사이트 midst of 바카라사이트 marking boycott ¨C announced last month that it had agreed to pay staff 13 per cent more over three years in addition to a one-off non-consolidated payment in what 바카라사이트 institution hailed as a ¡°new era of industrial relations¡±.

Nottingham Trent University ¨C which left 바카라사이트 national pay negotiating process nearly three years ago ¨C has also just agreed a two-year settlement with its staff which will include a one-off payment of ?500 or 1.5 per cent of salary, a?2.5 per cent pay uplift?in August 2024 and a fur바카라사이트r 2 per cent?in August 2025.

Vice-chancellor Edward Peck said 바카라사이트 deal also included?additional measures such as closure days, increment payments and?grade revisions which had all been?requested by staff. ¡°This ability to resolve 바카라사이트se priorities of colleagues as part of 바카라사이트 overall negotiation is one of 바카라사이트 major benefits of local collective pay bargaining,¡± he said.

In March, Imperial College London ¨C which has long not participated in national collective bargaining ¨C??a pay deal equivalent to a 4 per cent rise overall.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com