Pay gap at universities is biggest in public sector and getting bigger, says report

The report, by the Young Greens, found the pay ratio of the lowest to highest paid people is 1:19 across the sector. A 2010 report into public sector pay carried out by Lord Hutton found a ratio of 1:15 in higher education, which was substantially higher than the rest of the public sector.

UCU members have voted in favour of strike action across UK universities in a dispute over pay on Thursday 31 October. The action, with members of UNISON and Unite, is the first strike over pay in universities since 2006 and the first time the three main higher education unions have taken coordinated action. 

UCU head of higher education, Michael MacNeil, said: 'Staff have suffered real terms pay cuts year after year, while those at the top have continued to enjoy rises. The widening gap between the big earners and the rest demonstrates just why staff in our universities are prepared to take strike action over pay.

'They know how unfair the situation has become and this report highlights that injustice. We hope the employers' representatives will study this report and recognise that now is the time to sit down with us and sort the problem out. Nobody wants to see strike action, but it seems it's only the bosses who cannot see the problems with pay in higher education.'