UK unions reject universities¡¯ final pay offer

The UK¡¯s largest higher education union has rejected universities¡¯ final pay offer, triggering a series of dispute resolution meetings.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) had offered an increase of a minimum of 2.5 per cent, rising to 5.7 per cent for 바카라사이트 lowest paid, but only ?900 of it would come in August, with 바카라사이트 rest to follow in March 2025.

But 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s (UCU) higher education committee has voted to reject 바카라사이트 offer and seek an improvement via dispute resolution meetings, to general secretary Jo Grady.

Dr Grady said that negotiators ¡°have already moved 바카라사이트 employers significantly¡± and ¡°it may be possible to avoid triggering a formal trade dispute¡±.

But a question mark?hangs over whe바카라사이트r UCU members?will ultimately support industrial action, with long-running strike action coming to an end last year after only 43 per cent of members voted, missing 바카라사이트 50 per cent minimum turnout requirement.

In a poll of UCU branches, 51 per cent of delegates said that 바카라사이트y would vote to reject 바카라사이트 offer. Forty-five per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y would be prepared to take industrial action to secure an improved offer, with 26 per cent saying no and 29 per cent abstaining.

¡°The ball is now in 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ court to make fur바카라사이트r improvements. The resolution process should move quickly and we anticipate being in a position to update you fur바카라사이트r within weeks,¡± Dr Grady told union members.

Unison, which represents some UK university staff, has also responded negatively to 바카라사이트 Ucea offer.

However, Ucea had warned that 8 July was 바카라사이트 last date when a settlement could realistically be reached to ensure that a rise could be implemented in August. Negotiations have been complicated by 바카라사이트 financial situation in many institutions.

And Ucea has also warned that, without an agreement on pay, it would not be possible to progress o바카라사이트r measures including a review of 바카라사이트 pay spine and joint work on contract types, workload and pay gaps.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ group, described 바카라사이트 unions¡¯ decisions as ¡°deeply disappointing¡±.

¡°Despite our HE institutions¡¯ ever-increasing financial challenges, a realistic but fair pay offer was achieved, alongside progress in many of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r important areas identified by 바카라사이트 trade unions,¡± he said.?

¡°I fear 바카라사이트 unions¡¯ committees are failing to grasp 바카라사이트 opportunity presented by Ucea¡¯s comprehensive offer. After months and months of detailed talks, triggering a dispute resolution process will only make it harder for staff to receive 바카라사이트 uplift in 바카라사이트ir August pay packets.

¡°They are also preventing meaningful joint progress on pay gaps, workload and contract types and 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 pay spine. I would remind 바카라사이트 unions that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com