UCU HE Pay Briefing : Wednesday 24th February, Glasgow

A special meeting of the Higher Education Committee (HEC) took place on Wednesday 13 January. The purpose of the meeting was to agree the next steps in the pay campaign 2016/17.

HEC had a focused discussion covering the following factors:

• The shape of the claim for 2016/17
• The timing of the claim’s submission, the negotiating timetable and, if necessary, actions in support of the claim
• The position of other trade unions in respect of the above
• Building the campaign among members
• Legislative changes (the Trade Union Bill)

In line with the decisions made at the October meeting, HEC confirmed that the claim will be submitted during the first week in February.

Pay and pay equality claim

HEC approved the development of a focused pay claim based on the principles of pay catch up and keep up, which may be a headline number. HEC also expressed a view that any final offer must ensure that changes to the governemnt’s approach to the living wage does not result in distributive bargaining by the employers to reduce the amount on offer to those above the living wage floors.

UCU will be also be looking for a claim for action to close the gender pay gap in higher education as well as action to reduce the sector’s reliance on forms of casual employment.

The HE trade unions meet on Tuesday 19 January to seek to agree a joint claim.

Pay Campaign

HEC approved a pay campaign that will focus on the cumulative loss in members’ pay, the projected cost of living increases over the next 18 months, pay inequality and gender pay, the stark contrast with senior pay, casualisation, the sector’s level of income and reserves and work intensification/ workload.

Branches are reminded of the link to the recent HE news which covered some of these campaign themes.

http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/k/s/ucu_henews42_nov15.pdf

Branches are also advised to look out for the latest UCU report on VC, Principal and senior pay, which is due out in early February.

Timetable for action

An outline timetable for a ballot and action in support of the claim was agreed. The national negotiators were charged with refining the approach. HEC approved a timetable that enables a ballot and action to start in April. The timetable will form the basis of direct consultation with members and branches during February.

Consulting members and branches

HEC approved means to consult branches and members.

To start, a series of regional / devolved nation pay briefings have been arranged for February. At the briefings, branches will discuss the campaign and provide feedback on the proposed timetable for action. Details of the four briefings are found in the circular emailed to HE branches on 19th January.

Branches should make every effort to participate in these briefings as they will inform the decisions of the HEC when it meets on Friday 4 March to decide the next steps in the HE pay and campaign.
It is important that your branch sends at least one representative to one of the briefings advertised in this circular. Branches may send up to two representatives.

 HE branches in the Northern Region are encouraged to attend the Glasgow briefing (24th February) or the Leeds briefing (25th February)

Register for the Glagsow briefing online