NATFHE Says : London Metropolitan University Dispute

NATFHE and London Metropolitan University have now (28 July) reached agreement on a new contract of employment and interpretation agreement. The agreement comes after a fifteen month dispute that began with the imposition of a new contract on many staff.

NATFHE's Co-Ordinating Committee is strongly recommending the agreement in a ballot of members. The new contract meets the large majority of NATFHE's goals.

The memorandum of agreement (PDF file) summarises the status of the new agreement.

The new contract (PDF file) and the new interpretation agreement (PDF file) set out the new agreement and include the tracked changes so that staff can easily see what has changed.

The NATFHE commentary (PDF file) explains the significance of all the main changes.

In NATFHE's view it is a real pity this agreement could not be reached 15 months ago but we are extremely please agreement has now been reached and with the content, which could represent a new start for the university after a very troubled year.

Unfortunately university management have decided to take punitive deductions for partial performance during the dispute. Members are outraged. ACAS is offering to complete the mediation process on that issue too. The content, timing and tone of the letter has unfortunately not assisted the creation of a new start.

NATFHE has also written a letter (Word doc) to London Met students explaining why there are delays to student marks despite the new contract being signed.

NATFHE has launched a national appeal to raise hardship funds for members facing draconian pay deductions at London Met following the highly successful contract negotiations. NATFHE will be challenging these deductions by all means necessary including legal challenges. In the meantime please download the financial appeal (Word doc), circulate it to colleagues, and send a donation.

20 March 2006