Letter to Members

Letter sent to members

Dear Colleague

I write to inform you of the recent consultative ballot result on HE pay and current developments.

In the recent consultative ballot; 69.8% (of those who replied) voted in favour of taking part in action other than strike action in pursuit of the 2012-13 pay claim and 55.2% (of those who replied) voted in favour of taking part in strike action in pursuit of the 2012-13 pay claim.

The New JNCHES Agreement on HE pay negotiations requires the EIS (and other trade unions) to go through the New JNCHES dispute resolution process prior to initiating an official industrial action ballot in support of a pay claim.

The EIS-ULA Executive Committee decided that it would issue a dispute with UCEA, and enter into the New JNCHES dispute resolution process.

The EIS-ULA Executive Committee considered these results of the consultative ballot and decided if the New JNCHES dispute resolution process fails to achieve a significantly improved pay offer then it will request the EIS Executive Committee to authorise an industrial action ballot for both strike and action short of strike action in pursuit of the 2012-13 pay claim.

This morning, the President of the EIS-ULA Dr Nick McKerrell and I attended the first New JNCHES dispute meeting, and it ended without any improved pay offer being tabled by the employers’ side.

Whilst I hope that the employers will table an improved pay offer at the next dispute meeting, I believe that they will not significantly improve their pay offer.

Members should be aware therefore that efforts are being made by the EIS and other trade unions during the summer to improve the 1% pay uplift offer currently on the table, but that currently it does not look promising.

Members should be aware that all five unions represented in Higher Education have now rejected the 2012-13 pay offer, and have agreed to work together in the autumn in pursuit of a fair pay deal this year. It now looks increasingly likely that this will involve some form of industrial action.

I shall keep members informed of developments.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries.

 
Yours sincerely

David Belsey
National Officer
Further and Higher Education