2010-2011 HE Pay Negotiations
Updated: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 | 
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2010-2011 HE Pay Negotiations
The 2010-2011 HE pay negotiations started yesterday with the first New JNCHES meeting in 2010, with representatives from the EIS and the other 4 campus unions and the employers association, UCEA.
At the New JNCHES meeting on 29 March 2010, UCEA made an offer to explore how a non-consolidated cash sum equivalent to 0.25% of pay bill could be applied. [A non-consolidated cash sum is type of payment that would not be taken into account for pension purposes and does not affect the substantive salary, in other words, a non-consolidated payment would not become part of one's salary and may only last for one year.]
The employers made no serious attempt to address the other key elements of the joint union claim; for example, nothing on:
· Job security
· Improving the national framework agreement and terms and conditions of employment
· The assimilation of hourly-paid staff to the national agreement
· Proposals to close the gender pay gap
· Proposals for a national system to pay external examiners
Without producing any convincing evidence, the employers asserted that the effect of incremental increases on the pay bill should be taken into account during pay negotiations. This provoked a strong response from the trade unions. Unlike the private sector that pay the rate for the job from day one in the public sector staff start below the full rate and build up reflecting increasing knowledge and skills - arguably providing a short term subsidy for HE employers.
The employers negotiated a pay deal in 2003 that clearly accepted increments as part of the structure so to complain now, when they have known and presumably budgeted for such increases, is a little disingenuous. They are looking for fig leaves and this will not wash.
The trade union side unanimously rejected the offer made in the 29 March 2010. The employers were asked to rethink their position and come to the next meeting with a credible offer.
The next New JNCHES meeting is scheduled for 19 April 2010.
T: +44 (0)131 225 6244, F: +44 (0)131 220 3151, enquiries@eis.org.uk