Employers blow hole in national bargaining

8 March 2004

University employers are 'effectively seeking to tear up national bargaining' after last week reaching an understanding on the pay framework agreement with Natfhe and EIS.

The AUT fears that by reaching separate deals the employers are setting up a 'free for all' where the richest universities are able to offer the most, and where those in the parts of the sector which have less money do worse.

AUT members are currently carrying out a boycott of assessment, cover and call-out activities in an effort to get the employers back around the table to find solutions to the union's concerns.

Last week's agreement means there will be one deal for post-92 staff in England and Wales (Natfhe), one in post-92 Scotland (EIS) and another for AUT members in pre-1992 institutions.

Mr Waddup explained: 'We want a proper national agreement which protects career earnings for all, guards against unregulated local bargaining and retains a national career structure.

'All the academic unions have fought for two years to harmonise pay and conditions for academic staff, so that whether staff work in pre or post-92 institutions or in Scotland or the rest of the UK, there would be a salary benchmark for each grade.

'We have always respected other unions' bargaining positions, and will continue to do so BUT in reaching this understanding with the two unions, UCEA is effectively seeking to tear up national bargaining.

'UCEA must know that the likely result is that most post-92 staff will continue to be paid less than their colleagues in the old universities.

He added that the AUT: 'will continue to actively pursue our members' interests in the post-92 sector, determined to redress any pay differential that emerges between 'old' and 'new' university staff as a result of UCEA's decision to seek distinct agreements with each union.'

The proposed EIS/NATFHE/UCEA deal covers only 33% of academic staff, with the vast majority working in AUT organised institutions.

AUT's difficulties with the pay framework proposals remain the impact on career earnings for teaching and other staff, the impact on members of local bargaining and the position of academic-related staff. There is nothing in the NATFHE/EIS/UCEA agreements which address these concerns.

In the meantime, Mr Waddup also reported that informal discussions between AUT and UCEA continue about how negotiations can get back on track: 'These discussions are significant but, as yet - despite what some vice-chancellors are saying - there is nothing serious to report. With increasing numbers of institution heads losing patience with UCEA, the time to start talking seriously is now.'

For further information on the pay dispute, please follow the links above right.