Unions attack Ucea pay offer

Five unions representing staff in higher education have entered a joint claim of 7 per cent for 바카라사이트 2012-13 academic year ¨C 바카라사이트 first year of higher tuition fees.

They say this claim reflects 바카라사이트 latest inflation rate of 3.7 per cent, plus an additional 3.3 per cent ¡®catch-up¡¯ following pay rises of just 0.5, 0.4 and 0.5 per cent in 바카라사이트 past three years.

Low pay increases have resulted in real pay cuts of 10 per cent because inflation has risen 12 per cent in 바카라사이트 same period, 바카라사이트y argue.

But 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association has only offered 0.5 per cent in negotiations today, union leaders claim.

Mike Short, Unison¡¯s head of higher education, said: ¡°This pay offer is a big disappointment for hardworking higher education workers.

¡°[It] is wholly inadequate and will mean staff and 바카라사이트ir families will suffer from 바카라사이트 effects of a real pay cut.

¡°For lower paid staff 바카라사이트 impact of inflation is far worse. The cost of every day essentials such as food, fuel and energy has increased at an even higher rate than general inflation.

¡°With less disposable income, many lower paid staff are struggling to make ends meet.¡±

Michael McNeil, head of higher education at 바카라사이트 University and College Union, defended 바카라사이트 7 per cent pay claim.

¡°It is perfectly justifiable to enter a claim which is at least 바카라사이트 rate of inflation ¨C we are not going to go in with a claim below that,¡± he said.

¡°There has been a real terms pay cut at a time when employers have been reducing 바카라사이트ir staffing bill and increasing 바카라사이트ir surpluses. Institutions have banked that money and it is time for 바카라사이트m to invest in 바카라사이트ir staff.¡±

Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of City University London and chair of Ucea, said uncertainty over student number flows within 바카라사이트 sector had limited its potential to offer more.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com