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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lecturers offered 0.3% pay rise | Lecturers offered 0.3% pay rise |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| University teaching staff have been offered a pay increase of 0.3% for the next academic year - but a lecturers' union called this "derisory". | University teaching staff have been offered a pay increase of 0.3% for the next academic year - but a lecturers' union called this "derisory". |
| The University and College Union had made a claim for a pay rise of 8%. | The University and College Union had made a claim for a pay rise of 8%. |
| University employers described their pay offer as "realistic, responsible and credible". | University employers described their pay offer as "realistic, responsible and credible". |
| Lecturers are already set to ballot on taking industrial action to protect posts - with the union warning of a "cull of academic jobs". | Lecturers are already set to ballot on taking industrial action to protect posts - with the union warning of a "cull of academic jobs". |
| The University and College Employers Association said the pay offer was made following extensive consultation with universities, "all of which are operating in an exceptionally difficult economic climate". | The University and College Employers Association said the pay offer was made following extensive consultation with universities, "all of which are operating in an exceptionally difficult economic climate". |
| But UCU and other unions involved in the talks rejected the offer. | But UCU and other unions involved in the talks rejected the offer. |
| 'Scaremongering' | 'Scaremongering' |
| The higher education representative body, Universities UK, welcomed the pay award - saying it was "realistic and responsible". | The higher education representative body, Universities UK, welcomed the pay award - saying it was "realistic and responsible". |
| The offer comes as the lecturers union is asking its members to vote on what it says is a threat to jobs. | The offer comes as the lecturers union is asking its members to vote on what it says is a threat to jobs. |
| UCU said the employers had refused to negotiate a national agreement which would prevent job cuts in the higher education sector. | UCU said the employers had refused to negotiate a national agreement which would prevent job cuts in the higher education sector. |
| Employers said UCU was "scaremongering" about job cuts, as the reason for its dispute was pay, not safeguarding jobs.. | Employers said UCU was "scaremongering" about job cuts, as the reason for its dispute was pay, not safeguarding jobs.. |
| The threat of strike action has also angered the National Union of Students - with the union's president saying "students need industrial action by university staff like a hole in the head". | The threat of strike action has also angered the National Union of Students - with the union's president saying "students need industrial action by university staff like a hole in the head". |
| But UCU said 500 jobs were under threat in healthcare training alone because of a cut in training budgets. | But UCU said 500 jobs were under threat in healthcare training alone because of a cut in training budgets. |
| Its general secretary, Sally Hunt, said it was essential to protect jobs in the current circumstances. | Its general secretary, Sally Hunt, said it was essential to protect jobs in the current circumstances. |
| "There is nothing to prevent UCEA negotiating a national agreement to prevent job losses," she said. | "There is nothing to prevent UCEA negotiating a national agreement to prevent job losses," she said. |
| "In fact in these exceptional financial circumstances we think it is absolutely essential. | "In fact in these exceptional financial circumstances we think it is absolutely essential. |
| "They have failed to understand, or deal with, the full scale of the jobs crisis in the sector and left us with no choice but to ballot our members for industrial action." | "They have failed to understand, or deal with, the full scale of the jobs crisis in the sector and left us with no choice but to ballot our members for industrial action." |
| Disruption | Disruption |
| Two major university groups - the Russell Group and 1994 Group - put out a joint warning that they are "deeply worried at the prospect of disruption of student examinations this summer". | Two major university groups - the Russell Group and 1994 Group - put out a joint warning that they are "deeply worried at the prospect of disruption of student examinations this summer". |
| Ms Hunt said an agreement was necessary to agree that redundancies would be a last resort. | Ms Hunt said an agreement was necessary to agree that redundancies would be a last resort. |
| Some institutions were opting for job cuts without exhausting other options, she said. | Some institutions were opting for job cuts without exhausting other options, she said. |
| After three-months of industrial action in 2006 during which lecturers boycotted classes and marking, a deal was reached to increase pay incrementally by 13.1% over three years. | After three-months of industrial action in 2006 during which lecturers boycotted classes and marking, a deal was reached to increase pay incrementally by 13.1% over three years. |
| However, because the final increment in September 2008 was linked to inflation, lecturers' pay increased by 5% at that point - taking the total increase to over 15%. | However, because the final increment in September 2008 was linked to inflation, lecturers' pay increased by 5% at that point - taking the total increase to over 15%. |
| This deal is due to come to an end at the end of July. | This deal is due to come to an end at the end of July. |
| 'Premature' | 'Premature' |
| Employers called the ballot "premature, inappropriate and out of process". | Employers called the ballot "premature, inappropriate and out of process". |
| They said any job cuts in the higher education sector were out of their control as universities were autonomous institutions. | They said any job cuts in the higher education sector were out of their control as universities were autonomous institutions. |
| UCEA chief executive, Jocelyn Prudence, said UCU were being "disingenuous" about the nature of the ballot. | UCEA chief executive, Jocelyn Prudence, said UCU were being "disingenuous" about the nature of the ballot. |
| "Attempts to conflate pay negotiations with scaremongering about local job losses in the sector are seriously misleading. | "Attempts to conflate pay negotiations with scaremongering about local job losses in the sector are seriously misleading. |
| "The HE sector is not immune from the exceptional economic environment. Like any other employment sector, HE institutions can only pay what can be afforded." | "The HE sector is not immune from the exceptional economic environment. Like any other employment sector, HE institutions can only pay what can be afforded." |
| The potential dispute comes as applications to university have shown a large rise on last year - of 8.8%. | The potential dispute comes as applications to university have shown a large rise on last year - of 8.8%. |
| Universities are saying they are experiencing an unprecedented surge in applications - at the same time as facing a cap on increasing places. | Universities are saying they are experiencing an unprecedented surge in applications - at the same time as facing a cap on increasing places. |