UCU ballots higher education members for industrial action in pay row

The union's negotiators rejected a pay offer of just 1% and in a consultative ballot over two-thirds (70%) of union members who voted said another real terms pay cut was unacceptable.
 
Over the period covered by the last three settlement years, staff pay went up by just 1.3% (0.5% in 2009-10, 0.4% in 2010-11 and approximately 0.3% in 2011-12 through a lump sum payment). All-items RPI inflation in Aug 09-Jul 12 went up 12.9%. So the real terms pay shortfall was 11.6%.

Michael MacNeil, UCU head of higher education, said: 'We recognise that these are tough times. However, the employers simply cannot plead poverty again this year. The proportion of money being spent on staff costs has dropped and it is no longer acceptable to think university staff will simply do more for less pay.'
 
The other unions that represent higher education staff - Unite, Unison, GMB and EIS - are also balloting their members for action having rejected the employers' pay offer.