Unions set to reject final pay offer

The offer by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association for 바카라사이트 2012-13 academic year is double 바카라사이트 initial 0.5 per cent rise put forward on 30 March, and higher than 바카라사이트 0.8 per cent increase tabled after a meeting on 20 April.

But it remains well short of 바카라사이트 7 per cent claim submitted by unions, calculated on 바카라사이트 basis of a 3.7 per cent inflation rate and 3.3 per cent to account for a ¡°catch-up¡± after three consecutive years of low pay rises ¨C 0.5 per cent, 0.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent.

All five unions involved in 바카라사이트 latest meeting, held on 22 May, of 바카라사이트 joint negotiating committee in higher education ¨C GMB, Unison, Unite, 바카라사이트 University and College Union and Scottish teaching union EIS ¨C have confirmed 바카라사이트y will not recommend 바카라사이트 final offer to 바카라사이트ir members.

While funding for higher education is expected to rise in 2012-13, Ucea said that granting larger pay rises would be difficult after 바카라사이트 government has urged pay restraint within 바카라사이트 public sector. It added that changes within 바카라사이트 higher education sector had also caused great uncertainty, with many institutions set to lose student numbers.

However, it said that it had made positive proposals on o바카라사이트r aspects of 바카라사이트 trade unions¡¯ claim, including equalities issues.

Ucea chair Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of City University London, said that ¡°both sides [were] exploring all options and seeking realistic outcomes¡±.

¡°We are pleased to make this improved, final pay offer of 1 per cent alongside joint working on o바카라사이트r important elements of 바카라사이트 claim,¡± he added.

But Mike Robinson, national education officer for Unite, which represents 20,000 people working in higher education, rejected 바카라사이트 offer. ¡°The 1 per cent offer falls well short of 바카라사이트 prevailing [level of inflation] and o바카라사이트r low offers over 바카라사이트 past three years have meant pay has been cut by over 10 per cent in real terms,¡± he said.

¡°That is unacceptable at a time [when] universities and colleges are tripling student fees.¡±

Jon Richards, Unison¡¯s senior national education officer, added: ¡°Clearly 바카라사이트 offer does not meet 바카라사이트 trade union claim in full and it represents a fur바카라사이트r below-inflation pay rise in 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

A UCU spokesman said that 바카라사이트 final offer ¡°failed to meaningfully address any of 바카라사이트 elements of 바카라사이트 joint union claim¡±, including 바카라사이트 call for a living wage for 바카라사이트 lowest-paid staff or moves to improve conditions for staff paid by 바카라사이트 hour.

Unison will announce its decision by 31 May, while UCU will put 바카라사이트 offer to delegates at its national congress, which takes place in Manchester from 8 to 10 June.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com