Pay and jobs briefing

• Ballot on higher education jobs and pay
• Ballot on further education pay

Note: this does not apply to the USS or TPS pension ballots.

Ballot on higher education jobs and pay

What is the dispute about?

UCU submitted a pay claim for 2010/11, along with other higher education trade unions, that called on the university employers to instruct UCEA (the Universities and Colleges Employers Association) to develop jointly agreed proposals that would:

• protect the value of current salaries
• improve job security across the sector through a national agreement
• improve equality in the sector.

In response, the university employers have offered a real-terms pay cut - a 0.4% pay rise when RPI inflation is 4.8%. They have also refused to negotiate a nationally agreed approach to improving job security.

What exactly did UCU ask for in terms of job security?

The claim asked for a national agreement designed to improve job security that could include:

• ensuring early and improved consultation with UCU before formal redundancy proposals are a reality
• improved minimum procedures for consultation with staff when redundancy proposals are made
• a properly supported redeployment system for all staff, including researchers.

This is not demanding the impossible. These protections exist in other sectors, such as local government and the NHS, but have been absent from higher education for too long. All that is missing is the will on the part of the employers.

Who was balloted?

University and College Union members working in higher education institutions throughout the UK.

When did the ballot open and close?

This ballot opened on Thursday 17 February and closed on Wednesday 2 March.

What was the result?

52.6% of those who voted, voted for strike action.
73.53% of those who voted, voted for action short of a strike.

When will the action take place?

Thursday 24 March (on the same day there will be strike action at 63 universities over detrimental changes to a major universities pensions scheme. Lecturers at the 'new' universities are also striking over changes to their pensions as are staff in further education colleges).

Why did UCU need to ballot for strike action on this issue?

UCU is clear that the employers are being irresponsible at a time when moves are being made that threaten to devastate our sector. The university sector is in the middle of the worst crisis for a generation. Thousands of jobs have already been lost and up to 40,000 more could be at risk as the government has pledged to cut 80% from the teaching budget.

The employers' failure to engage with our claim means that many staff will now be at greater risk of losing their jobs.

Was this just about higher pay?

No - the claim did not seek 'more money', but rather consolidation and protection from further attacks on salaries for hard-pressed staff. In response, the employers have offered a real-terms pay cut for the second year in a row. But a key part of the claim was about job protection rather than pay. Cuts in funding are happening as a result of government decisions. However, we believe that universities can mitigate the effects upon staff by mandating UCEA to develop with us jointly agreed proposals for improving job security.

Won't students suffer?

As a union, UCU has worked closely with NUS to campaign against the rise in tuition fees and the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance. We will continue to work closely with students to explain the issues to them and work to protect their interests as far as possible.

Ballot on further education pay

What is the dispute about?

University and College members working in further education in England were balloted in response to the lowest ever pay offer of 0.2% on all pay scales or £50, whichever is higher, for the academic year of 2010/11. With RPI inflation at 5.1% at the time of the offer, this would be a significant cut in the value of pay. It is also far below the 2.3% offered to school teachers and further education teachers in Wales.

Who was balloted?

Members of the University and College Union who work in further education colleges in England.

In England UCU, alongside other trade unions, negotiates with the Association of Colleges, an employers' organisation representing the vast majority of colleges. The AoC then produces recommendations on pay and other employment issues for individual colleges to adopt.

When did the ballot open and close?

The ballot opened on 22 February and closed on 14 March.

What was the result?

64.2% of those who voted, voted for strike action.

When will the action take place?

Thursday 24 March (on the same day there will be strike action at 63 universities over detrimental changes to a major universities pensions scheme and strike action at other universities over pay, job security and pension changes).

Who was balloted?

University and College Union members employed in colleges across England.

Why does UCU need to take a stand against this?

This offer is effectively a pay cut and all the more unacceptable at a time when schoolteachers and FE colleagues in Wales have been awarded 2.3%. Last year's pay offer for staff in FE colleges in England was 1.5%.