UCU responds to students' calls for talks to stop more university strikes

In the letter the union says it welcomes a call from the National Union of Students for 'a speedy resolution to the ongoing pay dispute, and in such a way that provides a fair and sustainable settlement to higher education staff.'

The move follows successful strike action by UCU alongside Unite and UNISON last Thursday (31 October). The letter formally requests that UCEA agrees to resume negotiations in the interests of everyone who studies and works in the sector.

The unions argue that the employers, with £8bn already in reserves and more expected by 2016, can afford to pay more than a 1% pay rise which contributes to a 13% real-terms pay cut for university staff since 2008.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Students deserve both sides pulling out all the stops to resolve this damaging dispute. That is why UCU has welcomed NUS's intervention and why we have written to UCEA today to ask them to urgently resume negotiations.

'UCU and our sister unions stand ready to resolve this dispute but it takes two sides to negotiate. My hope is that the employers will reflect on the message our students are giving us and come back to the table immediately.'

Follow the hashtag #fairpayinHE on Twitter for updates.

The letter

Helen Fairfoul
Chief Executive
Universities and Colleges Employers Association
20 Tavistock Place
London
WC1H 9HU

4 November 2013

Dear Helen,

Current pay dispute

On 16 October, UCU wrote to ask you for talks aimed at resolving the current pay dispute without the need for our members to take strike action. Sadly, no formal response to that letter was ever received, and strike action involving UCU and out sister unions took place on 31 October. In the continued absence of proposals from you to resolve this damaging dispute UCU members commenced work-to-contract action and we are, with regret, considering further strikes.

The National Union of Students (NUS), which represents two million learners across the sector, has now called for 'a speedy resolution to the ongoing pay dispute, and in such a way that provides a fair and sustainable settlement to higher education staff.' We welcome this initiative from NUS and would formally request that you agree to resume negotiations immediately.

We stand ready to resolve this damaging dispute today in the interests of those who study and work in higher education and would urge you to respond positively.

Yours sincerely

Michael MacNeil
National Head of Higher Education