HE UNIONS REJECT INITIAL PAY OFFER FOR 2016-17

Employers’ initial offer to higher education unions does not include the living wage.

The five higher education trade unions have rejected an initial pay offer from the employers and urged them to improve it before the next meeting.

The unions met UCEA, the employers’ representative body, on 21 March – the first of the 2016-17 pay negotiation meetings.

The trade unions presented a joint claim and the employers responded with an opening offer.

This offer included a 1% increase on all pay points, as well as a statement that the employer has a genuine interest in exploring whether all sides can agree joint work on reducing both the gender pay gap and casual work in the sector.

The joint unions rejected this proposal, which does not address areas such as the living wage, and urged the employer to improve the offer before the next meeting, which is scheduled for 28 April.