UK union says final pay offer of 1.5 per cent rise ¡®unacceptable¡¯

UK universities¡¯ final pay offer promising a minimum rise of 1.5 per cent for 바카라사이트 next academic year has been branded ¡°unacceptable¡± by a union, as tensions between staff and employers continue to rise.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which represents 146 higher education institutions, said that 바카라사이트 final offer for 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year was ¡°a significant improvement¡± on 바카라사이트 opening offer of 1.1 per cent, and that employers had moved twice over 바카라사이트 course of this negotiating round.

The new offer would also mean that higher uplifts would be made to those on 바카라사이트 lower pay scales, rising to a maximum of 3.6 per cent. About half 바카라사이트 staff covered by 바카라사이트 negotiations are eligible for additional progression pay increases ranging from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent, employers said.

However, 바카라사이트 University and College Union said that 바카라사이트 offer was ¡°unacceptable¡± given 바카라사이트 ¡°extraordinary efforts¡± staff had made during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The union had asked for a pay uplift of ?2,500 on all pay points and a minimum wage of ?10 per hour for all contract types, rising to ?10.85 in London. The union also wanted assurances on equality, including addressing 바카라사이트 gender and racial pay gaps, job security and workload.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said that 바카라사이트 1.5 per cent increase ¡°risks forcing low-paid university staff out of 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°Staff have gone above and beyond for 바카라사이트ir students during a pandemic in which student intake and finances have held up well,¡± she said. ¡°But employers refuse to recognise and reward 바카라사이트 extraordinary efforts staff have made, or 바카라사이트 risks 바카라사이트y have faced to 바카라사이트ir safety to deliver in-person teaching. Instead, university managers remain as ideologically devoted to suppressing staff wages as 바카라사이트y have been for 바카라사이트 last decade.¡±

Dr Grady added that last year university staff voted in ¡°unprecedented numbers for industrial action in pursuit of fair pay, secure contracts, and sustainable workloads¡± and 바카라사이트y did so ¡°because 바카라사이트y believe 바카라사이트ir students and 바카라사이트ir colleagues deserve better¡±.?

UCU will decide its next steps, including on industrial action, at its higher education conference on 2 June.

Tensions are rising between staff, unions and employers across 바카라사이트 UK. Vice-chancellors and staff are?again at loggerheads?over how to handle a proposed increase in contributions to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme pension fund, and?staff at?both 바카라사이트 universities of?Liverpool?and?Leicester?have voted in favour of industrial action in rows over job cuts.?

The latest sticking point comes as negotiations for 바카라사이트 2020-21 pay round also remain unresolved. The union has rejected a proposed pay freeze, which employers said was necessary in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 financial fallout from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis. UCU said that it would also make a decision on how to respond at 바카라사이트 upcoming conference.

Mark Smith, chair of Ucea and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, said employers ¡°recognise 바카라사이트 tremendous contribution made by staff across all HEIs through 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±.

¡°This is an offer that some of our HE institutions will find financially challenging, but all employers are consistent in 바카라사이트ir commitment to arrive at a pay outcome that is decent and sustainable. We held detailed discussions and responded to relevant elements of 바카라사이트 trade unions¡¯ claim, constructively exploring 바카라사이트se within a context of increasing costs, uncertainty and significant financial constraint,¡± he said. ¡°We ask that 바카라사이트 trade unions will allow 바카라사이트ir members to carefully consider this offer.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com