Created on: 01 Jul 2025
EIS ULA announced that its members have commenced a consultative ballot on a proposed 1.4% pay offer for the 2025-26 academic year, with the trade union recommending members reject the pay offer and vote YES to taking industrial action.
The ballot will be open for six weeks and will close on Monday, August 11th. This move reflects widespread dissatisfaction among university lecturers and academic related staff with an offer deemed wholly inadequate in the current economic climate.
Against a backdrop of persistent high inflation and the ever-increasing cost of living, this offer of 1.4% represents a significant real-terms pay cut for university lecturers, who have already endured years of real-terms cuts.
Members feel undervalued and disrespected by employers, particularly given the escalating pressures within the higher education sector and the vital role they play in the education of young people in Scotland and driving cutting edge research.
"This 1.4% offer is not just disappointing; it is derisory and does not reflect the dedication and expertise of our university lecturers and academic related members," stated Garry Ross, EIS ULA National Officer.
"Our members are working harder than ever, delivering world-class education and research, yet their financial security continues to be undermined by employers who appear unwilling to offer a fair deal. This offer fails to recognise the essential contributions of our members and does nothing to address the severe impact of rising living costs or the sub-inflationary rises they have experienced over a number of years."
The stark contrast between the offer made to EIS ULA members and pay settlements achieved in other sectors further fuels the discontent.
For the same period, EIS FELA (Further Education Lecturers' Association) members have secured a 4.14% pay increase, while NHS workers and other public sector employees across Scotland have also seen more favourable pay awards that better reflect the economic realities and the value of their work.
This disparity highlights a clear injustice within higher education and underscores the need for a more equitable approach to staff remuneration.
The EIS ULA remains committed to achieving a pay settlement that genuinely addresses the cost of living and properly values the work of its members.
The EIS ULA urges employers to return to the negotiating table with a significantly improved offer to avert widespread disruption and recognise the essential contribution of university lecturers to Scotland’s higher education landscape.