Universities make 0.9% pay offer to staff

The University and Colleges Employers¡¯ Association said 바카라사이트 offer for 2015-16 was above inflation ¨C 바카라사이트 consumer price index is currently flat at 0 per cent ¨C and was being made ¡°against a backdrop of unprecedented uncertainties and challenging circumstances¡± for higher education institutions.

But 바카라사이트 offer, which was announced after a meeting of 바카라사이트 Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff on 24 April, is below 바카라사이트 1 per cent offer that triggered strikes and 바카라사이트 threat of a marking boycott last year. Industrial action was eventually called off after an offer of 2 per cent was accepted by staff.

The joint pay claim submitted by 바카라사이트 five main sector trade unions called for salaries to ¡°at least be increased¡± by 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 retail price index measure of inflation, which stood at 0.9 per cent last month but, according to 바카라사이트 unions, is forecast to rise.

The unions say that salaries have dropped by about 15 per cent in real terms over 바카라사이트 past five years when inflation is taken into account, even with this year¡¯s 2 per cent rise.

Ucea said that pay progression increments, which around half all employees will be eligible to receive, would take 바카라사이트 average pay increase in 2015-16 to 2.4 per cent and that many would receive more than this.

The organisation said that 바카라사이트 offer sought to ¡°address all 바카라사이트 elements¡± of 바카라사이트 unions¡¯ pay claim. Work to explore 바카라사이트 gender pay gap and 바카라사이트 conditions of casual staff¡¯s employment is continuing, Ucea added.

Paul Curran, 바카라사이트 chair of Ucea and 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of City University London, said 바카라사이트 JNCHES meeting had been ¡°constructive¡±.

¡°We believe 바카라사이트 HE institutions and trade unions wish to arrive at a settlement that is both fair for staff and sustainable for 바카라사이트ir institutions. The employers have made a substantial pay uplift offer of 0.9 per cent on all pay points alongside fur바카라사이트r movements to address concerns around 바카라사이트 lower paid,¡± Professor Curran said.

¡°This offer is against a backdrop of unprecedented uncertainties and challenging circumstances for HE institutions and 바카라사이트 sector as a whole. We look to trade union colleagues to consider carefully 바카라사이트 real value of 바카라사이트 offer being made.¡±

But Michael MacNeil, national head of bargaining and negotiations at 바카라사이트 University and College Union, described 바카라사이트 offer as ¡°disappointing¡±.

¡°Staff working in higher education want a fair offer which keeps up with 바카라사이트 cost of living and addresses 바카라사이트 loss in value of members¡¯ pay over recent years,¡± he said.

¡°We are disappointed that 바카라사이트 employers are trying to link incremental progression with 바카라사이트se pay negotiations, but are failing to address many of 바카라사이트 issues set out in our equality claim. Ucea needs to review its position ahead of 바카라사이트 final meeting.¡±

The final negotiating meeting is due to be held on 12 May.

Meanwhile, Scotland¡¯s universities have confirmed that 바카라사이트y will pay all of 바카라사이트ir staff 바카라사이트 living wage.

All employees covered by collective pay agreements at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 19 higher education institutions will be paid at least ?7.85 an hour ¡°for 바카라사이트 foreseeable future¡±, a Universities Scotland spokeswoman said.

¡°The intention of every institution in 바카라사이트 sector to pay 바카라사이트 living wage for 바카라사이트 foreseeable future is sincerely meant but it as far as 바카라사이트 sector is able to commit at present given 바카라사이트 unpredictable nature of annual increases in 바카라사이트 living wage and uncertainty in higher education funding,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com