Unite’s higher education members ballot for industrial action over
‘derisory’ pay offer
17 October 2011
Unite, the largest union in the country, is balloting its
members in higher education across the UK for industrial action
following the breakdown of talks over a ‘derisory’ pay offer.
Unite – one of the five unions in the talks – is the first union
to reject the pay offer which is a lump sum of £150 for all
staff. It will be balloting its members for industrial action
to commence later in November.
Unite national officer for education, Mike Robinson, said the
offer was ‘derisory’ when set against soaring household bills and
an inflation rate of 5.2 per cent. He pointed out that London’s
Imperial College, which is outside of the national negotiations,
has already offered a £500 lump sum or 2 per cent to its employees,
whichever is the greater.
In recent years, staff have accepted below inflation pay
increases. In 2009, it was 0.5 per cent; in 2010 0.4 per cent and
this year’s offer is worth 0.5 per cent on average. The pay deals
run from August each year.
Mike Robinson said: ”Inflation over the last three years has
been 12.4 per cent, so in real terms the offers on pay equate to a
pay cut of about 11 per cent. Unite members have had enough and
have voted in a recent consultative ballot to reject the offer by a
4-1 majority.”
Unite has members in more than 60 UK universities - about half
of the total. Most of the Unite members are in the older Russell
group-style research intensive universities which have substantial
cash reserves and easily able to improve on the existing offer.
Unite has exhausted the disputes procedure.
The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) was
suggesting a reference to the conciliation service, Acas, but Unite
has firmly rejected that route, unless the employers give some
indication that the £150 pay offer will be improved.
The ballot is expected to open on 28 October and close on 17
November. Unite is one of five unions involved in the pay
talks. The others are Unison, GMB, UCU and EIS.
Unite covers staff across all the UK universities from academics
and academic-related staff to technicians, skilled administrators,
estates, security and domestic staff.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
Unite’s national education industry committee meets on Thursday
20 October to confirm the ballot dates.
For further information please contact Mike Robinson on 07768
931 284 and/or Unite communications officer Shaun Noble on 07768
693 94
