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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| University staff set for 5% rise | University staff set for 5% rise |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| UK university staff are set to receive pay rises of more than twice the government's public sector target rate. | UK university staff are set to receive pay rises of more than twice the government's public sector target rate. |
| Their three-year pay deal provided for 2.5% in the third year, starting next month - or the September retail prices index, whichever is higher. | Their three-year pay deal provided for 2.5% in the third year, starting next month - or the September retail prices index, whichever is higher. |
| This RPI figure is likely to be 5% - as Chancellor Alistair Darling is telling TUC delegates the limit should be 2%. | This RPI figure is likely to be 5% - as Chancellor Alistair Darling is telling TUC delegates the limit should be 2%. |
| The university employers have said they will honour the deal, but warn of an impact on the next round of pay talks. | The university employers have said they will honour the deal, but warn of an impact on the next round of pay talks. |
| The most recent available RPI figure is July's, which was 5%. The September RPI figure is not due to be published until mid-October. | The most recent available RPI figure is July's, which was 5%. The September RPI figure is not due to be published until mid-October. |
| Deferred | Deferred |
| It is thought likely that universities will postpone the pay rise due in October until they have this figure. | It is thought likely that universities will postpone the pay rise due in October until they have this figure. |
| Some have told staff that salaries for October will continue to be paid at the rate of the last uplift, in May, rather than including the anticipated 2.5% increase. | Some have told staff that salaries for October will continue to be paid at the rate of the last uplift, in May, rather than including the anticipated 2.5% increase. |
| The October pay increase would then be paid in November, backdated to 1 October. | The October pay increase would then be paid in November, backdated to 1 October. |
| HIGHER EDUCATION PAY DEAL August 2006 - greater of 3% or £515February 2007 - 1%August 2007 - 3%May 2008 - greater of 3% or £420October 2008 - greater of 2.5% or RPI at September 2008Autumn 2008 - review of financial and pay data | HIGHER EDUCATION PAY DEAL August 2006 - greater of 3% or £515February 2007 - 1%August 2007 - 3%May 2008 - greater of 3% or £420October 2008 - greater of 2.5% or RPI at September 2008Autumn 2008 - review of financial and pay data |
| The higher education pay settlement has been worth more than 10% over 22 months, plus a minimum of 2.5% for this next year. | The higher education pay settlement has been worth more than 10% over 22 months, plus a minimum of 2.5% for this next year. |
| It was reached after industrial action by lecturers in 2006 which included a boycott of exam marking, and what the employers describe as "lengthy, complicated and intense" negotiations. | It was reached after industrial action by lecturers in 2006 which included a boycott of exam marking, and what the employers describe as "lengthy, complicated and intense" negotiations. |
| The deal also involved a bigger overall percentage rise of 15.5% for the lowest paid cleaners, porters, security staff and other non-academic university workers. | The deal also involved a bigger overall percentage rise of 15.5% for the lowest paid cleaners, porters, security staff and other non-academic university workers. |
| And it said that if a university was in serious financial difficulty "it may defer implementation of any of the above increases by up to 11 months in order to minimise job losses". | |
| Feedback | Feedback |
| The University and College Union, representing academic staff, takes the view that the employers have had three years to budget for the settlement. | The University and College Union, representing academic staff, takes the view that the employers have had three years to budget for the settlement. |
| It said it would question the "financial acumen" of any institution that claimed it could not afford the rise. | |
| The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue at the annual gathering of the vice-chancellors' organisation, Universities UK. | The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue at the annual gathering of the vice-chancellors' organisation, Universities UK. |
| A spokesman said it had a good track record of honouring all aspects of the settlement and the general feedback so far had been that this final part would be paid. | |
| But he said: "The repercussions are that it will influence the next pay round." | |
| The employers had warned that the settlement was "at the absolute limit of affordability". | |
| "The economic climate has experienced a dramatic change recently and the consequent changes in other costs such as those for energy are also likely to impact on higher education institutions' financial health still further." | |
| The deal was in addition to increases in staff pay under a separate agreement, regular increments and rising costs in pension provision, Ucea added. | |
| The first formal meeting of the joint national pay bargaining body is next March, but with a pre-meeting between employers and unions at the end of the year. | The first formal meeting of the joint national pay bargaining body is next March, but with a pre-meeting between employers and unions at the end of the year. |