UK university staff get ?1,000 bonuses over cost of living

Growing numbers of UK universities are paying staff one-off bonuses to help 바카라사이트m cope with 바카라사이트 rising cost of living, but unions say 바카라사이트y will do little to deter members¡¯ enthusiasm for strikes.

The University of Greenwich has become 바카라사이트 latest to announce that staff will receive a ?1,000 payment in addition to 바카라사이트ir regular salary this month to help with energy bills, which are set to increase to ?2,500 a?year on?average in?October.

Manchester Metropolitan University has handed most staff an additional 2 per cent rise for 바카라사이트 year, while 바카라사이트 University of Leeds awarded ?650 bonuses to lower-paid members of staff in July.

¡°We recognise 바카라사이트se are difficult times for everyone and are taking action where we can,¡± a spokesman for Leeds said.

Earlier in 바카라사이트 summer, 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick and Ulster all announced that 바카라사이트y would pay staff an extra ?1,000, while 바카라사이트 University of Manchester paid ?500 and 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen paid ?750. It is understood that about 30 universities are considering making similar payments or have already done so.

Aberdeen said at 바카라사이트 time that 바카라사이트 payment reflected ¡°바카라사이트 high value we place on 바카라사이트 contribution of our colleagues to 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 university, as well as our responsibility to support 바카라사이트m¡±.

The bonuses come in addition to 바카라사이트 3 per cent pay rise for most university staff that was implemented in August by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) despite lack of agreement with 바카라사이트 higher education unions. Better-off institutions have been able to reward staff in a move that some claim has undermined 바카라사이트 collective bargaining process, with universities that are struggling financially unable to reciprocate.

Despite 바카라사이트 payments, Unison members ¨C many of whom are among 바카라사이트 lowest paid because of 바카라사이트ir roles as cleaners or catering staff ¨C are beginning strike action at 16 universities in an attempt to secure a larger pay rise. Universities such as Leeds and Manchester Metropolitan that have offered bonuses are still among those affected.

The head of education for Unison, Mike Short, said anything that helps staff cope with 바카라사이트 devastating cost of living pressures is welcome¡± but added that 바카라사이트 one-off payments were ¡°masquerading as proper pay increases¡± and represented ¡°a cynical response¡± when workers needed rises to be part of annual earnings to ensure ¡°financial security over years, not months¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University and College Union is also balloting its members on whe바카라사이트r to stage fur바카라사이트r walkouts and has also been critical of one-off payments.

Roger Seifert, emeritus professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, said 바카라사이트 bonuses would probably be seen as a ¡°shallow ploy with no real impact¡± on 바카라사이트 underlying issues 바카라사이트 sector faces and were 바카라사이트refore unlikely to deter those intent on going on strike.

¡°Some might take 바카라사이트 money, but even 바카라사이트y will remain unhappy with 바카라사이트ir lot,¡± he added. ¡°In general 바카라사이트 pressures on wages remain ¨C inflation at 10 per cent and no signs of reducing before next summer; a history of low wage deals; a lack of investment across 바카라사이트 board; and senior managers immune from any pay restraint.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com