Dear Member
As we approach the end of summer, the EIS is growing ever more concerned at the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our members in universities.
RPI has hit 11.8%; there are massively increasing fuel, energy and household costs; and your pay is going out the door faster and faster to meet the cost-of-living.
A 3% offer from your employers in this round, combined with year upon year of below inflation pay awards, is simply going to compound the cost-of-living crisis for university academics.
However, it seems we are not all in this together. In 2020 there were no Principals in Scotland earning under £187,000 pa and most were earning higher salaries, with perks like residences and chauffeurs on top. Undernoted is a table showing the emoluments for HE Principals in Scotland in 2020. We note in 2020, HE staff had a pay freeze, despite all your work in the pandemic to keep institutions operating.
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| Higer Education Institution |
Principals’ Emoluments (£) (inc. salaries, cash in lieu of pension contributions and benefits in kind etc.) |
| University of Aberdeen |
296,000 |
| Abertay University |
224,000 |
| University of Dundee |
266,000* |
| University of Edinburgh |
407,000 |
| Edinburgh Napier University |
250,000 |
| University of Glasgow |
363,000 |
| Glasgow Caledonian University |
270,000 |
| Glasgow School of Art |
187,000 |
| Heriot Watt University |
316,000 |
| UHI |
205,000 |
| Queen Margaret University |
211,000 |
| Robert Gordon University |
224,954 |
| University of St Andrews |
296,000 |
| University of Stirling |
298,000 |
| University of Strathclyde |
398,000 |
| UWS |
280,000 |
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Source: HEIS Financial Accounts 2019-20
*(Dundee figure from 2017 as interim Principal in place in 2020 on £173,000. New permanent Principal’s salary figure not available at time of writing)
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Unfortunately, UCEA have indicated that they do not intend to make an acceptable offer on pay this year. Having attended 2 dispute meetings, the employers decided not to improve their “final offer”. As usual, instead of trying to settle the dispute by negotiating with the unions properly, UCEA have advised their institutions to impose the pay offer.
This sort of real terms pay cut is making academia less attractive to the best staff. While workloads spiral and expectations on staff grow, pay is declining in value and we don’t think that’s fair.
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We know that staff in universities are working in this sector because of their commitment to first class education, scholarship and research. The commitment of staff has made Scottish universities some of the best in the world, and kept them afloat during the pandemic, but there must be fair remuneration and investment in staff to keep attracting the best people to our sector.
It’s not right that staff should be working harder while pay declines in value. It’s not fair that those contributing to our society, economy and the future of our young people should be subject to year-on-year real terms cuts while the pay of university leaders soars.
Since 2009, academics’ pay has hugely declined in real terms while the pay of Principals has increased vastly. In Scotland, the First Minister of the country earns £157,861, that’s less than every university Principal in Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary for Education is earning £112,919 – that’s not even half of what some Principals are taking home. This is not fair. The money to pay ordinary staff fairly in HE exists, it’s just going into the pockets of the few.
In order to make the employers improve their pay offer, industrial action will be required. Your ULA Executive is therefore asking you to vote YES to Action Short of Strike and YES to Strike Action in this consultative ballot.
It’s time to show the employers that they must pay fair wages to all HE Staff. You can show your support for the campaign by voting today and encouraging your colleagues to do so too. Follow our Facebook and twitter account and download the latest campaign materials.
Vote Today!
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