"The shortfall of teaching funding has badly hit the salaries of academic staff, which have shown practically no increase in real terms over two decades."
Tony Blair, speaking to Universities UK, 14 January 2004

University employers must think again

Employers have misjudged the mood

The assessment boycott is having a serious impact in most institutions and media interest is soaring (with a helpful editorial in today’s Guardian). 88.91% of undergraduate marks are missing says a report to University of Wales Institute Cardiff's academic board; dramatic effects like this are widespread.

Reviewing branch reports of action at a meeting on 18 May, NATFHE’s higher education committee heard that where management have threatened or made deductions members’ attitudes have hardened. Whilst members want an early settlement there’s consensus that VCs have seriously misjudged the mood.

Employers are meeting today but it’s unclear whether a new offer will emerge. Watch out for news here.

Universal outrage at pay deductions for the rejection of pay awards far less than vice-chancellors’ increases is the order of the day. At Northumbria, Bournemouth, and Oxford Brookes NATFHE has warned that crude tactics will irrevocably sabotage professional relationships and goodwill in the longer term. 100% pay deduction for the temporary non-performance of a relatively small part of contractual duties is disproportionate and inflammatory. NATFHE has warned Oxford Brookes, whose 100% deduction threat is combined with proposed imposition of a local pay award, of potential legal action.

Media digest
Action reports

Balloting on current offer will delay a settlement

It would be pointless putting the current offer out to ballot as it falls so short of members’ aspirations, NATFHE’s higher education committee has agreed. As Roger Kline explained to MPs on the education select committee this week, a ballot leading to rejection would simply delay any further offer from the employers. 

Academic boycott warning

NATFHE will call for international academic boycotts in the event of 100% pay deductions, and first in line is Northumbria University where 100% pay deductions are threatened from 22 May and all-out strike action is on the cards.

Demonstrate

23 May - day of local publicity action and solidarity with all staff facing employer retaliation.

1 June - national demo in Newcastle in solidarity with colleagues at Northumbria and with others facing punitive deductions. More details out soon.

Support the fund to help your colleagues

NATFHE has launched a national voluntary levy (£50 contributions proposed), aimed at supporting members facing substantial potential financial hardship because of punitive deductions. The union has a Permanent Sustentation Fund for this purpose. However while the fund is strong at the moment, the union is concerned that if employers prolong the dispute, the monies may run short.

Cheques should be sent direct to your branch secretary not to head office.

For information on accessing hardship payments, contact your branch.

Letter to members 
Fund contribution form

Select Committee chair slams employers' version of events

Select Committee chair Barry Sheerman was 'hopping mad' with employers for suggesting that members of the committee had called on the unions to ballot their members on the latest pay offer, according to a BBC report.

After the meeting referred to below the employers said members of the committee had called on the unions to ballot their members on the latest three-year pay offer of 12.6%. Committee chair Barry Sheerman said this was 'absolutely the opposite of the truth', adding: 'I'm hopping mad....I don't see how anyone can trust an organisation that would do that.'

Shortly afterwards UCEA retracted their statement and issued a new one.

Barry Sheerman said one member of the committee had asked union representatives why they had not put the employers' offer to their members in a ballot. And the unions had explained they felt this would waste time when they knew what the outcome would be. Mr Sheerman said the committee had invited in both sides to articulate their concerns. 'We were trying to air issues and perhaps get a dialogue going.'

Read the BBC report in full
Watch the proceedings

Education and Skills Select Committee

AUT conference gives resounding support to pay campaign

AUT conference delegates at their Annual Council have unanimously endorsed the current pay campaign. Delegates voted unanimously to reject the current offer as falling well short of the claim, and to reject any attempt to introduce local bargaining. Delegates also voted unanimously to reject all attempts at deductions and make restitution a condition of a settlement.

Conference heard from a Newcastle University AUT delegate who said he had just taken a call from his wife who had been told she would have 100% of her pay deducted and that this symbolised the common interest of the two unions.

EIS declare dispute and will ballot on action

Following the most recent pay negotiations, the Educational Institute of Scotland Executive decided to declare a dispute and to seek permission from the EIS Executive Committee for an immediate industrial ballot on action short of a strike.

Roger Kline, head of higher education, equality and employment rights at NATFHE said: ‘I welcome the decision of EIS. This is further evidence that the pay offer is way below what is needed and that momentum is building in support of the pay campaign’.

EIS statement (PDF file)