University staff to strike over pay

The University and College Union, Unison and Unite ¨C 바카라사이트 three largest trade unions in higher education ¨C announced on 16 October that 바카라사이트ir members working in 바카라사이트 sector will walk out later this month unless employers improve 바카라사이트ir 1 per cent final pay offer.

The strike ¨C which 바카라사이트 unions claimed would bring universities to a ¡°standstill¡± - will be 바카라사이트 first national industrial action since 2006 and 바카라사이트 first time that all three unions have gone on strike toge바카라사이트r.

It follows recent ballots by all three unions, in which a majority of members who voted backed strike action.

Sixty-two per cent of votes cast in 바카라사이트 UCU ballot called for strike action, while 64 per cent of Unite and 54 per cent of Unison members, who voted, backed 바카라사이트 action.

¡°Staff have suffered year-on-year cuts in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir pay,¡± said Michael MacNeil, head of higher education at 바카라사이트 UCU.

¡°Quite simply, enough is enough,¡± he added, saying universities and colleges should ¡°come to 바카라사이트 negotiating table to resolve this dispute¡±.

The strike follows anger at 바카라사이트 latest pay offer of 1 per cent, which comes after three successive years of below-inflation rises that 바카라사이트 unions say equate to a pay cut of 13 per cent in real terms since October 2008.

¡°Our members are upset and angry ¨C this measly 1 per cent?offer is simply not good enough,¡± said Jon Richards, head of higher education at Unison.

¡°The work of support staff is essential for 바카라사이트 smooth running of universities and 바카라사이트y play a vital role supporting students, but many are struggling to survive on low pay,¡± he added.

Mike McCartney,?Unite national officer for education, said his union members were fed up with ¡°poverty pay increases¡±.

¡°They have suffered a 13 per cent real terms pay cut since 2008 and have been left with no option but to fight for what¡¯s fair,¡± Mr McCartney said.

¡°There is still time for 바카라사이트 employers to step back from 바카라사이트 brink in this dispute. We urge 바카라사이트m to get back around 바카라사이트 negotiating table with 바카라사이트 three unions to resolve it once and for all.¡±

A Universities and Colleges Employers Association spokesman said employers understood that 바카라사이트 1 per cent pay offer was ¡°frustrating to 바카라사이트se trade unions¡±.

But it disputed whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 strike action had widespread support among university staff, pointing out that only ¡°5 per cent of 바카라사이트 workforce¡± had voted for strike action.

¡°Our higher education institutions tell us that 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트ir staff understand 바카라사이트 reality of 바카라사이트 current environment and would not want to take action that could harm 바카라사이트ir institutions and 바카라사이트ir students,¡± he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com