10 January 2006

Universities ‘to be brought to a standstill’ unless pay talks can be resolved

Universities across the United Kingdom could be brought to standstill this term unless unions and the university employers can thrash out a deal at pay talks today (Tuesday 10 January). Millions of students could be left with coursework unmarked, lectures and seminars cancelled, and their exam programmes thrown into chaos if the talks fail.

The unions are arguing that vice-chancellors have reneged on a public promise to put at least a third of the money derived from the new funding regime, including the controversial top-up fees, back into sorting out staff pay.

In April 2004, the then minister for higher education, Alan Johnson, said that university vice-chancellors, lobbying for the introduction of top-up fees, had cited low academic pay as one of the reasons for introducing top-up fees. Speaking in the House of Commons, he said that vice-chancellors had told him that at least a third of the income from fees and extra grants would be put back into the salaries and conditions of the staff.

If the employers fail to deliver on that promise staff at universities across the country will be asked to back industrial action including a one-day strike at the start of March, followed by an assessment boycott. The boycott would involve no marking or setting of coursework and a refusal to get involved in exam preparation.

AUT general secretary, Sally Hunt, said:

"University staff have been continually let down over pay. We have heard the promises of extra cash, followed by the excuses of there not being enough money to pay us, too many times. This time round we know the money is there - money we were promised when the vice-chancellors were lobbying in favour of top-up fees. We have no desire to disrupt the studies of hardworking students, but if the employers do not keep their word we will be left with little choice.

NATFHE general secretary, Paul Mackney, said:

"Billions of pounds of extra income will begin to flow into universities this year. As much as we dislike student fees the new cash means there are no credible excuses for refusing to fulfil the Bett recommendations on pay. Students deserve professional staff paid professional rates. If the government wants 21st century universities, universities must pay accordingly. The money is now available and it's time to top-up university pay."