Joint union statement: Acas higher education talks

The joint unions have continued to push employers, represented by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), on the issues of pay, workload, casualisation and equality pay gaps.

Some progress has been made in establishing agreed terms of reference for negotiations on reviewing the higher education pay scales.

Talks via Acas will continue into next week on the terms of reference for negotiations on workload, contract types and equality pay gaps.

However, the unions are disappointed that UCEA has moved to instruct its members to impose the first element of the 2023/24 pay proposal. This is despite nothing yet having been agreed on pay. The unions will continue to make that clear in negotiations.

The joint unions view UCEA's pay advice to higher education employers as regrettable, given the strain it inevitably places on the current Acas-facilitated negotiations.

Joint statement signed by UCEA and unions:

Following constructive talks between UCEA and the Joint HE Trade Unions on Thursday 23 February, facilitated by Acas, some progress has been made towards establishing agreed terms of reference for negotiations on the review of the national HE pay spine. Talks, through Acas, will continue next week on the terms of reference for negotiations on the pay spine and on workload, contract types and pay gaps.