“In real terms, this latest offer is not even in line with inflation and represents a slap in the face for hard working university staff who are experiencing increased workloads as student numbers have risen.”

“ Unite reluctantly suspended industrial action on the 2011 offer to enter into these talks – but our good faith has been undermined.”

“If the 2012 negotiations don’t deal with real term pay losses, which even the UCEA admits is about seven per cent drop in pay levels, then these negotiations are heading for the buffers.”

More talks are scheduled between the unions and UCEA for 20th April and 22nd May. Unite represents 20,000 staff – from professors to porters – at HEIs and was the only union to have rejected the offer of £150-a-year for all grades to run from 1 August last year for 2011/12. Unite members voted for industrial action, short of strike action, at the end of last year – and were sticking to the letter of their contracts with no working outside their contractual hours. This has now been suspended in the hope that this year’s pay talks will result in a substantial pay rise.

• Budget 2012
• Change of pace needed in boardroom diversity
• Indexation ruling will hit pensioners Inflation dips
• Adult minimum wage rises by 11p Unions slam Budget

Fact Sheet 13

• Court victory for asbestos victims Employers aren’t ready for ageing workforce
• Public-private sector regional pay gap
• A Tory gives his idea of workplace rights Balance of payments
• Economy is expected to grow this year Pay settlements

• TUC points way to economic growth
• Highs and low of mergers and takeovers HSBC banks on giving staff flexi options
• Industrial action backed at Primark Employers should embrace social media
• Public confidence in pensions at low ebb Campaigners target unis over Living Wage

• Don’t fall for dodgy deals on pensions
• Childcare costs rocket. Proportion of staff in pension schemes down. Who got biggest slice of economic pie?
• Benefits not reaching people they should BESNA binned
• Pay settlements back up to 3% Renewable energy agreement signed

• UCEA  offered 0.5% in 2009, 0.4% in 2010 and 0.5% in 2011 a total of 1.4%
• The inflation rate over the same period was over 12.6%.
• Salaries depreciated in real terms by over 11% to 2011.

In many Universities pay increases were far higher for those above the 51 point pay spine. Some were well over 10% and in some institutions above 15%. This spike in above pay spine staff has not gone unnoticed. The Times Higher has carried out research into Vice Chancellor and senior staffs pay over a similar period 2009 – 2011, this has shown a higher rate of increase.

As the Telegraph reported in 2010, the increase in salaries for a selection of VC’s were as example, Wendy Purcell, Plymouth – 20% (£283,504) Chris Jenks, Brunel – 18% (£280,000) Andrew Hamilton, Oxford – 17% (£382,000) Shirley Pearce, Loughborough – 15% (£275,365) Noel Lloyd, Aberystwyth – 13% (£208,000).

Clearly we are not all in this together.

17 New timetable for auto-enrolment of pensions Huge cost of workers’ shrinking wage pool

18 Presenteeism at work on rise

19 Sixty years of work, dole and stress in UK Adult apprenticeships are good value

20 Privatisation rejected in Scotland’s capital Unemployment rate in Europe rises

• New workplace-related benefit levels announced
• Employees unhappy over pay Public sector pensions
• Government u-turns on tax relief for taxis Employment restrictions extended
• Private sector pensions Attack on health and safety challenged

Fact Sheet No 2:

• Unpaid overtime
• Action pledged by PM on pay? Balance of payments
• End of an era with Shell pension closure PFI — more to do over cost concerns
• Skill shortages only part of the problem Regional pay

Fact Sheet No3:

• Shameful map of poverty in the UK Inflation on downward path for 2012?
• What’s in store for the economy in 2012? Average earnings growth down again
• Unemployment in UK rises ever higher
• Unemployment continued

Fact Sheet No 4:

• Union reps add value to British economy
• No movement in pay settlements end 2011Fudge on executive pay
• Disgrace as blacklisted worker loses case Work programme slated
• Bad news for economy Benefit cap based on myths, says campaign

Unite Press Release. 25 January, 2012

Unite university staff work-to-rule over ‘lousy’ pay offer

University staff, members of Unite, are working-to-rule in protest at the ‘lousy’ pay offer of £150.

Unite represents 20,000 staff – from professors to porters – at Britain’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) – and is the only union to have rejected the derisory offer of £150-a-year for all grades to run from 1 August last year for 2011/12.

Unite national officer for education, Mike Robinson said: ‘Our members voted for industrial action, short of strike action, over this lousy deal at the end of last year – and are sticking to the letter of their contracts with no working outside their contractual hours.’

‘Our members have withdrawn the goodwill and flexibility that is so vital for the running of an academic institution.’

‘The HEIs – represented by the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) – can well afford to be more generous at a time of soaring household bills for working people. For example, Imperial College, London has given its staff £500-a-year more on all scales.’

‘Unite will be boycotting future meetings with the UCEA and will be asking Shabana Mahmood, the shadow business minister not to attend a HEI strategic conference.’

In a letter to UCEA Chief Executive, Jocelyn Prudence, Mike Robinson said: ‘Unite members will also be asked to raise the profile of the low offer on pay for 2011 in their own HEIs, as publically as possible.’