1.
In the last five years, your pay has increased below the rate of inflation.
This means in real terms your pay has been cut 13%. With all the change at the
University many of you have also been under increased pressure. Is this fair?
2.
Your union negotiate pay with the UCEA. Your Vice Chancellor
is a director of the UCEA and has influence in the association. The UCEA is
only offering you 1% again this year. Is
this fair?
3
HEFCE has said the university is in a strong
financial position – but it’s not even a Living Wage employer. This means some
of your colleagues earn less than £7.65 per hour. The Vice Chancellor, who
influences the UCEA, earns a salary of £277,000 before benefits. Is this
fair?
4
Inflation in the UK in
October was 2.6% RPI, whilst the average pay rise offered across the whole
economy is 2.5%. This means your pay rise of 1% is really a pay cut. There is money
to pay you more – but the UCEA won’t give you more... unless to you take action.
...to see the whole picture!
On
3rd December, your union, alongside the other unions at the
University will be taking strike action to help win you a fair pay rise. We need you to do your bit to make it a success.
The first day of
action on Halloween was well supported and brought the University and Colleges
Employers Association (UCEA) back to the negotiating table. UNISON, other unions
and the UCEA met again on 20th November - but were unable to reach
an agreement on fair pay. That’s why
your union asking you to support a second day of action. You need to take
action to win a pay rise that’s fair and
that is affordable, a rise that will help raise staff out of working poverty
and help to offset 5 years of attacks on your living standards.
Take action to win fair pay on 3rd December!
How we see it...
THEY SAY…
“In
an environment without central capital funding it is unsustainable to use
surplus income to help fund recurrent expenditure such as employee salaries.”
UCEA’s
statement on advising institutions regarding implementation of the 1% offer
13th November 2013
WE SAY…
·
In the conclusion to
the financial accounts published in November, the University’s Treasurer said: “After
a difficult start with student intake in 2012 being down on target, the
University community has responded well to the competitive challenges arising
from the new funding regime. A strong cash position is enabling it to fund an
ambitious capital programme to support the University’s strategic objectives to
change the world for the better through our research, education, innovation and
enterprise. We continue to view the future with confidence.”
· Income increased
during the “difficult” year of 2012/13. We have significantly over-recruited
international students since then, and our income continues to rise.
· The
University has made a decision to use its strong financial position to fund new
buildings and give pay rises to senior managers whilst reducing the value of
our wages.
THEY SAY…
“According
to the latest data available data from HESA 378,250 people work in the sector -
of these 29,741 or 7.9% per cent voted from [UCU, Unison, and Unite].”
UCEA’s
statement on advising institutions regarding implementation of the 1% offer
13th November 2013
WE SAY…
·
We
obviously only ballot our own members, and these are the only staff we have
directly called to strike. The percentage stated by UCEA is therefore
meaningless.
· It
is wrong to assume that those that did not vote are against action. There is a
great deal of support from all parts of the University community, staff and
students alike.
·
However
UCEA wish to express the percentage that voted for action, the amount that
voted against action is significantly smaller.
·
The
members of all 3 unions were properly asked—they have made a clear decision to
take strike action to fight for a fair wage.
THEY SAY…
“UCEA
continues to say that it is willing to talk to the disputing trade unions so that we can explore together whether the dispute can be resolved.”
UCEA
responds to trade unions' strike date announcement, 12th November 2013
WE SAY…
· UCEA
will only talk to us on the condition that it will not change its pay offer,
with the excuse that they do not have a mandate to increase it.
· UCEA’s
function is to negotiate with the unions over pay and conditions. If it wanted
a mandate to increase its offer now, it would be a very simple task for it to
seek one from the Universities.
· We
want to negotiate. We urge UCEA to agree to talk to us properly. If they do so
then we are confident that a constructive resolution can be found.
THEY SAY…
“Aside
from the 1% pay uplift, UCEA has offered joint work around the gender pay gap,
casual contracts and flexible working to address issues which are important to
the unions.”
UCEA’s statement
on advising institutions regarding implementation of the 1% offer, 13th
November 2013
WE SAY…
· It is appalling that the Universities have
allowed a gender pay gap to exist at all in the 21st Century.
· It was the Universities that opted for the
widespread use of casual contracts in the first place.
· It is the Universities have been slow to
address problems around flexible working.
· All of these
issues should be dealt with anyway, and not offered as an alternative to a fair
wage or as a justification for an unfair wage.
THEY SAY…
“Our
institutions tell us that the vast majority of staff understand the reality of
the current environment and would not wish to harm their institutions, and
especially their students.”
UCEA
responds to trade unions' strike date announcement, 12th November 2013
WE SAY…
·
If
the Universities really want to avoid disruption to their students, they can
easily do so by agreeing to negotiate further.
· By
continuing to devalue their staff, it is the Universities that are damaging the
institutions.
· SUSU’s
council voted in favour of supporting our strike action on 31st October.
· Striking
staff do not get paid for the days they are on strike. Many of us have asked
the University to donate the money saved to the Opportunity Fund. The
University has so far refused to do so.
· NONE
of us want to harm our University. We want it to prosper and for all to share
in a bright future.
