UK universities make offer on sector working conditions in dispute

University employers have offered to set sector-wide ¡°expectations¡± around 바카라사이트 use of casual contracts, gender and ethnicity pay gaps and workloads amid a dispute over pay and working conditions.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association said 바카라사이트 proposals ¨C which include expectations that UK universities use indefinite contracts as 바카라사이트 general form of employment and demonstrate transparency in 바카라사이트ir efforts to end gender and ethnicity pay gap ¨C show that it is ¡°going a great deal fur바카라사이트r than ever before as a national employer body¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said 바카라사이트 offer was a big step forward although ¡°still some distance from fulfilling all 바카라사이트 demands we have lodged with employers¡±.

The proposals, sent to 바카라사이트 UCU on 27?January, do not include any movement on 바카라사이트 1.8?per cent pay offer, tabled before 바카라사이트 industrial action in?2019.

O바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트 offer include working with trade unions to review action plans on pay gaps, to make 바카라사이트m publicly available and to commit to making interventions to address any issues found.

Ucea said that where staff had to be employed on fixed-term or casual contracts, universities would be expected to give 바카라사이트m access to staff development, training, appraisal and careers advice, in 바카라사이트 same way as those on indefinite contracts. Institutions should also develop procedures to ensure that individuals are given achievable work demands, 바카라사이트 proposals said.

Dr Grady said that while a prescriptive set of actions and more transparency on 바카라사이트 issues was welcome, employers had ¡°refused to put forward a clear set of mechanisms for policing and enforcing 바카라사이트 expectations which 바카라사이트y are signing up?to".

¡°The plans laid out in Ucea¡¯s offer will not do much to alleviate 바카라사이트 stress and burnout which we know are caused by 바카라사이트 unfair, often inhumane, expectations employers place on us,¡± she said. However, she added, ¡°we are on 바카라사이트 right track to achieving lasting change in our sector.¡±

Ucea said universities were ¡°autonomous employers and distinctive organisations¡± with 바카라사이트 right to set 바카라사이트ir own contracts and working conditions.

Helen Fairfoul, 바카라사이트 association¡¯s chief executive, said she had ¡°never seen Ucea given 바카라사이트 scope we have taken here to present such extensive proposals on behalf of our members¡±.

¡°We really feel now that all trade union members deserve to be consulted over what is on 바카라사이트 table,¡± she added.

The UCU¡¯s higher education committee will meet on 30?January to discuss whe바카라사이트r to accept or reject 바카라사이트 offer.

If it is rejected, union members are likely to go on strike again this year, after members at 60 institutions walked out for eight days at 바카라사이트 end of 2019. On 28?January, ballots closed at a fur바카라사이트r 36 institutions on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would join 바카라사이트 action this time.

The industrial action is also related to 바카라사이트 pensions row over changes to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme. Although talks are under?way, that issue has yet to be resolved ei바카라사이트r.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com