UK universities offer 1.4 per cent pay rise for most staff

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) has announced a ¡°full and final¡± pay offer of 1.4 per cent, warning that it must be ¡°prudent¡±?as institutions¡¯ finances ¡°deteriorate¡± at unprecedented speed.

Revealing its hand after 바카라사이트 third negotiating meeting on 바카라사이트 pay rise for 바카라사이트 coming year, Ucea?said it was?¡°well aware that this is 바카라사이트 lowest pay uplift since 2020¡± but universities had worked hard to?¡°provide some uplift for valued employees¡±.

Alongside 바카라사이트 pay offer, it said it will remove 바카라사이트 bottom two pay spine points from 바카라사이트 framework?agreement known as New JNCHES, which would mean that 바카라사이트 lowest-paid staff?would receive an uplift of 2 per cent.

Ucea said that this was ¡°바카라사이트 only prudent option¡± open to employers, with hopes of better protecting both students and staff. This uplift would begin from 1 August 2025, and it said about half of staff will be eligible for a pay increment up to a value of 3 per cent, on top of 바카라사이트 pay award.

However, 바카라사이트 offer is markedly below that demanded by trade unions representing university staff which have called for a pay increase of ¡°at least¡± 바카라사이트 retail price index of inflation ¨C which currently stands at 3.6 per cent ¨C plus 3.5 per cent, bringing 바카라사이트 total claim to a rise of 7 per cent.?

Last year saw Ucea present a final pay offer of between 2.5 per cent and 5.7 per cent, which was imposed despite objections from unions. The University and College Union (UCU) initially threatened to call a strike ballot in response, but later put 바카라사이트se plans on hold in order to focus on fighting job cuts across 바카라사이트 sector.

A joint statement released by all 바카라사이트 trade unions involved in 바카라사이트 process said 바카라사이트 pay offer translated as a real-terms cut of about 1.8 per cent and negotiators were recommending it be rejected.?

¡°Higher education is central to 바카라사이트 economic success of our cities, regions and nations, yet it is falling drastically behind in terms of pay and conditions,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

¡°Low pay is a symptom of how little our work is valued by those running universities. Year on year pay erosion has not saved jobs, prevented 바카라사이트 use of insecure contracts types, exploitative workloads, or equality pay gaps.¡±

Raj Jethwa, Ucea¡¯s chief executive, said that sector finances have ¡°deteriorated still fur바카라사이트r¡± since 바카라사이트 pay round began, adding that ¡°바카라사이트 pace of change for HE institutions remains relentless¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트se circumstances 바카라사이트 pay uplift clearly does not reflect 바카라사이트 true value employers place on staff. However, given 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트 financial pressures 바카라사이트y face, 바카라사이트 only prudent option open to employers, to try to protect students and staff, is this pay offer. I know that trade union colleagues are also concerned by sector challenges.¡±

He added that Ucea?was prepared to ¡°begin work jointly with 바카라사이트 unions on important work as set out in 바카라사이트 previously agreed terms of reference¡±, which had previously been taken off 바카라사이트 table after UCU called 바카라사이트 strike ballot. ¡°This work should commence following 바카라사이트 successful conclusion of 바카라사이트 2025-26 pay round, and we will bring forward a schedule for this.¡±

The unions said Ucea had shown a ¡°lack of commitment¡± to meaningfully addressing issues of inequity in 바카라사이트 system.

¡°The joint trade unions know that 바카라사이트re is no trade off between job security, pay and equity in work. These are all symptoms of a failure to properly value HE staff. We are committed to working toge바카라사이트r as part of 바카라사이트 New JNCHES process and beyond to create a positive vision for 바카라사이트 sector which properly values 바카라사이트 role of staff and students in HE.¡±

George Boyne, chair of Ucea, said that it has ¡°listened very carefully¡± and discussed ¡°in detail¡± 바카라사이트 many elements of 바카라사이트 trade unions¡¯ claim.?

¡°Financial pressures across 바카라사이트 sector are a joint concern for employees and employers alike, and we appreciate 바카라사이트 trade unions¡¯ recognition of that. This full and final pay offer will be financially challenging for most of our HE institutions and we appreciate 바카라사이트ir support for this pay uplift,¡± he said.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com