HE negotiating structures review 2008

The 2006 pay deal included an agreement to review the national structures for negotiating pay - the Joint National Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES).

After an extensive period of negotiations, including a review of discussions by a specially convened UCU higher education conference, proposals were considered by our higher education committee in December 2007 which decided to ballot members on the position reached by the UCU negotiators.

UCU's main concerns

UCU focused on two issues which both related to the principle of UCU's ability to freely represent its own members within a single table bargaining arrangement.

The first was a clear commitment to establish a sub-committee to negotiate issues relating to academic and academic-related staff and on which UCU would rightfully hold the majority of seats.
Secondly was to remove timetables which sought to impose artificial limits as to when pay bargaining takes place.

During a ballot on the issue UCU members voted by 60.8% to 39.2% not to accept the proposals to change the JNCHES (Joint National Committee for Higher Education Staff) bargaining arrangements, because of the restrictions placed upon UCU.

UCU - the majority HE union

Informal discussions took place in March 2008 between UCU and UCEA to explore ways forward following the ballot. The employer's body said at that time they shared UCU's commitment to retain national bargaining for pay and acknowledged the importance of ensuring that UCU was part of that process.

UCEA then said that since the other unions had signed up to 'new JNCHES', as it is now known, there was nothing to talk about. However UCU is the largest union within HE, and represents 98% of academic trade union member, so 'New JNCHES' simply could work effectively unless UCU was part of it.

The proposed 'reformed' national negotiating body for HE pay then met with UCU representatives present at the inaugural meeting only to restate the union's dissatisfaction with the committee: New negotiating body lacks credibility, says UCU

In December 2008 UCU warned that universities risked unnecessarily provoking serious industrial unrest in 2009 if they took up their own association's invitation to opt out of national pay bargaining arrangements: Universities who 'opt out' of national pay rises will face industrial action, warns UCU

Extensive talks

In January 2009 UCEA finally agreed to talks, and meetings took place under the auspices of the arbitration service ACAS.

After several weeks of talks, an agreement on the way forward was finally reached in March 2009. UCU reported that UCEA had ruled out a pay freeze for the forthcoming pay round and has reaffirmed its commitment to national bargaining. Crucially a review of the negotiating timetable has been agreed and it is accepted that the timetable does not restrict the ability for UCU to take industrial action. An agreement has also been made that issues relating to distinct occupations can be discussed with the relevant unions: Strike threat averted as UCU and employers look forward to new talks