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Category Archives: Pay
UNISON PREPARE FOR SECOND DAY OF STRIKE ACTION
UNISON’s higher education service group executive has called for a further day of strike action on 3 December.
The executive made its decision following the refusal by the employers to increase their 1% pay offer - despite the recent joint HE unions’ strike read more
INTERNATIONAL MESSAGES OF SUPPORT SENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION WORKERS
Unions from across the world have been sending messages of support today to UNISON’s higher education members, who are striking against a 1% pay offer.
International public services union PSI, Canadian union CUPE, German union Ver.di, Greek union ADEDY and Korean union KPTU-EdSol all sent messages of support read more
GELDOF TELLS HIGHER EDUCATION WORKERS “A FAIR DAY’S WORK DESERVES A FAIR DAY’S PAY”
Bob Geldof has lent his support to UNISON’s Higher Education members, telling workers on a crowded picket line in Leeds that “a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”
Universities and colleges have been operating with skeleton staff with UNISON members attending rallies up and down the country in a walkout over pay.
Staff working in a wide variety of jobs including course administrators, caterers, cleaners, security staff have caused widespread disruption in 21 towns and cities. Walkouts have forced the closure of libraries, health centres and food courts, with several universities cancelling classes before the industrial action started.
250 employees attended a rally in Bristol, while 80 union pickets covered building entrances at universities throughout the north-west. UNISON members occupying an empty car park at Staffordshire University received widespread support from students.
The union has labelled the offer of a 1% pay rise “miserly” as cash-rich universities continue to pay more than 4,000 staff less than the Living Wage, which stands at £7.45 and £8.55 in London.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis was one of hundreds of people occupying more than 70 picket lines across London, with UNISON members standing alongside those from UCU and Unite. He said:
“Our members are the backbone of universities. They work hard to support students on campus, they run the libraries, take care of course administration, feed the students, keep them safe, clean their accommodation and university premises, and yet their contribution to university life is so often overlooked.
“The vast majority are low paid. A 1% increase for the lowest paid works out at £11.23 a month – not even enough to cover the latest gas bill rises. By contrast the vast majority of vice chancellors are sitting pretty on £242,000 a year – the equivalent of 18 years’ wages for those at the bottom.”
FURTHER TALKS WITH EMPLOYERS TO RESLOVE HIGHER EDUCATION PAY DISPUTE
UNISON has confirmed that alongside its sister trade unions UCU, Unite and EIS fresh talks will be held with the employers in an attempt to resolve the current dispute over higher education pay.
UNISON members alongside their colleagues from UCU, Unite and EIS are due to take a second day of strike action on 3 December 2013 in response to the current offer of a 1% salary increase for staff.
But all parties have agreed to use ACAS to facillitate exploratory talks on a resolution at a meeting on 26 November 2013 at the ACAS offices in London.
UNISON has expressed its disappointment that the national HE employers organisation UCEA has provocatively suggested to universities that they can choose to pay their 1% pay offer “on account” to staff, whilst the current dispute over pay remains unresolved.
UNIVERSITIES MARCH TOGETHER
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After an early start on picket lines hundreds of staff from both universities joined forces to march around the city centre to protest about pay. Students demonstrated their solidarity by marching with university staff.
The rally made its way to Barkers Pool at midday where speakers, including Simon Renton, national president of UCU, and Hallam UNISON Branch Secretary Dan Bye, addressed the large gathering to outline the reasons for the protest.
Police officers with the rally approximated 300 to 400 strikers were active.
RESEARCH SHOWS CHANCELLOR WAS WRONG ON PAY PROGRESSION
A new report has cast doubt on claims about public service pay that were made by Chancellor George Osborne in his June 2013 spending review statement. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/research-shows-chancellor-was-wrong-on-pay-progression
TIME TO VOTE ON HIGHER EDUCATION PAY
UNISON’s members in higher education are being balloted for industrial action over the employer’s final pay offer of 1% across all pay points.
The vote opened on 18 September, with ballot papers being sent to members’ homes.
The national higher education service group executive is urging a vote for strike action, demanding an improved offer from the employers.
The pay claim is affordable, and the need to address the loss of income over the last five years for those in the sector is urgent. Living costs have increased by over 15% over the past five years. In that same period, pay increases for most staff have been worth around 2.2%.
This represents a shortfall in pay of around 13% for higher education staff. For someone on point 16 of the pay scale, this would represent a loss of over £1,600 per year.
Over 4,000 workers in the sector are paid less than the living wage of £7.45 per hour (£8.55 in London). This means their income is below that needed for a basic standard of living.
The money is available for an improved offer. The Higher Education Funding Council for England, which funds higher education, produced a report in March, showing that the sector posted record surpluses of over £1 billion.
Members need to use their vote in the ballot.
UNISON is officially urging members to vote for industrial action, sending a clear message to their employers that they are worth more than 1%.
Up-to-date information on the ballot can be found on the higher education pay pages
UNISON BALLOT PAPERS
From 18th September 2013 UNISON ballot papers will be sent to members’ home addresses by the Electoral Reform Society.
Members who do not receive their ballot papers within a week of 18th September can call 0845 355 0845 between 24th September and 12 noon 4th October. UNISONdirect agents will be able to take your details and arrange for a ballot paper to be sent to you (this will take 3 working days to reach you).
The UNISON ballot will close at 5pm on 8th October 2013.
UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group is campaigning nationally for a ‘YES’ vote from members, raising just some of the following points:-
• UNISON’s higher education members are facing a fifth year of pay awards below the cost of living;
• real-terms pay has been cut 13%;
• student numbers are up and cash surpluses in the sector are over £1bn;
• the English higher education funding body (HEFCE) reported in March 2013 that financial results are stronger than those previously projected in June 2012 despite a fall in public funding;
• the median pay package of the highest paid staff in the sector is £242,000.
Please contact your local steward or the branch if you have any questions.
Of the other Higher Education trade unions, UCU and UNITE also rejected the employers’ 1% pay offer and began consulting their members on the final offer with a recommendation to reject. We have no information at the moment about their next steps.
The branch has received information that the UNISON HE Pay Campaign is now under way and information for members can be found via the following link:
There is also information on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UNISONinHigherEducation?ref=hl
HIGHER EDUCATION PAY CAMPAIGN – UNISON MEMBERS TO BE BALLOTED FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
The UNISON Higher Education Service Group Executive (HESGE) is urging members to strike for better pay, following the employers’ refusal to improve the 1% offer.
UNISON believes that the money is available for a better pay increase, and that Higher Education employers can afford to improve on their offer.
Over the last 5 years, as a result of pay rises below the cost of living, our lowest paid members have lost the equivalent income of between £663 – £1173. UNISON believes that no employees in higher education should be paid less than the national Living Wage and that it is time for incomes for everyone in the sector to match the rising costs of living.
According to a recent freedom of information request, the median pay of the highest paid members of staff in the higher education sector (including pension contributions and other pay related elements) was £242,000 with the highest paid employee receiving over £500,000 per year! There is money available for some – we believe it should be available for all.
UNISON believes that evidence from the employer’s shows that the financial position of the higher education is healthy and shows signs of expansion with the number of employees in the HE sector showing an increase for management, academic and support staff by over 4,000 between 1/8/11 and 1/8/12.
Although during the same period some universities have made redundancies, this is not reflected across all HEI’s and we believe that this is further evidence that the sector has the money to make an improved pay offer that fairly reflects the contribution of our members.
The HESGE believe that the only way for an improved pay offer from the employers is for members to take strike action, and show the University employers that enough is enough and that pay matters.
UNISON consulted members on whether the offer should be accepted, and the majority of those responding said they would not accept it. Therefore the HESGE has decided to ballot members for industrial action in September. If members vote for action, this would be likely to take place in the autumn.
Remember: your vote does count.
We will be arranging Branch meetings to allow members to discuss the pay offer and campaign for a better deal.
It is important that before the ballot we have accurate contact details for all members. In our branch we have done a lot of work over recent years to make sure that our records are up to date. However, we know that members are constantly on the move, and so if you have changed your name, phone number, email address or postal address, please make sure you have told us.
You can update your details by emailing Jo, our branch administrator.
Or call UNISONDirect on 0845 355 0845.
Or manage your details online here: http://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison/