14 December 2022
First meeting of the early 2023-24 pay talks adjourned as trade unions renege on de-escalation agreement
UCEA and employers were left disappointed and dismayed by trade union* demands that have delayed the start the 2023-24 New JNCHES pay round. Actual negotiations did not begin because the trade unions demanded to revisit the ‘de-escalate the dispute’ agreed statement during negotiations just days after the process had been agreed.
Following a general business New JNCHES meeting on 30 November, both parties agreed a process statement to enable the negotiations for 2023-24 to commence early. This agreement to shift the timetable is unprecedented, providing a unique opportunity to address sector-wide winter cost-of-living concerns. The need to de-escalate the dispute is a key issue for these talks to take place in good and open faith. It is also unfair that students receive no protection from industrial action during this intense period of negotiations.
Yesterday’s adjournment was not in relation to UCU’s emerging infighting over issues to do with possible ‘indefinite action’ to strike in the new year, but rather so that UCEA’s Board could be consulted on the trade unions’ request at the meeting for the employers to agree an amendment to the agreed process for the 2023-24 pay negotiations.
UCEA’s news release, Agreed early process for the 2023-24 New JNCHES pay round, provides a unique opportunity to address sector-wide cost-of-living concerns includes The Process for the New JNCHES pay negotiating round for 2023-24 in full. This includes the wording which trade unions appear to be rescinding, that Both sides agree to de-escalate the dispute during the above described intense period of negotiations, including the impact of and employer responses to ASOS.**
These actions left UCEA with serious doubts about the unions’ commitment to negotiations on the 2023-24 pay round. UCEA, therefore, asked for an adjournment so that it could call an emergency meeting to reconsult with its Board. UCEA and employers remain committed to working hard to move the pay talks forward and negotiate over pay to address cost of living concerns.
Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:
“It is disappointing that this vital section to the agreed process is being challenged and undermined at the outset. It is perplexing that unions insist on their need to take industrial action during the period in which employers have actually agreed to meet with them. UCEA will consult Board members over this crucial element and we hope that trade unions carefully reconsider. We hope it does not hamper the real possibility to set aside differences in order to bring forward the New JNCHES 2023-24 pay negotiations in a bid to address the cost-of-living pressures facing staff.
“Separately, we hope UCU infighting can be resolved for the good of these pay talks and the sector as a whole. UCU HEC’s threat for ‘indefinite strike action’, which would target students in the new year, is incomprehensible when trade unions say they want to negotiate a new pay deal. This threat is not fair on students and it is not fair on UCU’s members who deserve a realistic and fair assessment of what is achievable on pay. Regardless, UCEA and its member HE institutions will seek to work with UCU and other trade unions to support staff and students and to avoid any unfair disruptive action.”
* EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite
**Process for the New JNCHES pay negotiating round for 2023-24
The parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:
To follow the New JNCHES Agreement in terms of the number of meetings, and the purpose of the negotiations, but over an accelerated and early timescale. Specifically, there would be up to three negotiating meetings in December and January. If these meetings do not reach an agreement, the parties will follow the New JNCHES Agreement Dispute Resolution process exhaustively, outlined in the Appendix to the New JNCHES Agreement, to conclude the pay round by the end of January 2023.
Both sides agree to de-escalate the dispute during the above described intense period of negotiations, including the impact of and employer responses to ASOS.
Whilst employers view the 2022-23 round as closed, employers also recognise that the unions do not regard the 2022-23 round as concluded and would want any settlement of 2023-24 to take account of this. The employers agreed to consider this as part of the 2023-24 pay round.
In these meetings all parties will strive to achieve a conclusion to the 2023-24 pay round, and commit to a number of meetings for further negotiation, in relation to the other aspects of the unions’ claim.
ENDS
Notes
For information relating to essential USS changes please go to USS Employers website at www.ussemployers.org.uk
Please contact the UUK media team for enquiries relating to USS at www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/creating-voice-our-members/media-team
For further information: Please contact Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Communications and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk)
First meeting of the early 2023-24 pay talks adjourned as trade unions renege on de-escalation agreement
UCEA and employers were left disappointed and dismayed by trade union* demands that have delayed the start the 2023-24 New JNCHES pay round. Actual negotiations did not begin because the trade unions demanded to revisit the ‘de-escalate the dispute’ agreed statement during negotiations just days after the process had been agreed.
Following a general business New JNCHES meeting on 30 November, both parties agreed a process statement to enable the negotiations for 2023-24 to commence early. This agreement to shift the timetable is unprecedented, providing a unique opportunity to address sector-wide winter cost-of-living concerns. The need to de-escalate the dispute is a key issue for these talks to take place in good and open faith. It is also unfair that students receive no protection from industrial action during this intense period of negotiations.
Yesterday’s adjournment was not in relation to UCU’s emerging infighting over issues to do with possible ‘indefinite action’ to strike in the new year, but rather so that UCEA’s Board could be consulted on the trade unions’ request at the meeting for the employers to agree an amendment to the agreed process for the 2023-24 pay negotiations.
UCEA’s news release, Agreed early process for the 2023-24 New JNCHES pay round, provides a unique opportunity to address sector-wide cost-of-living concerns includes The Process for the New JNCHES pay negotiating round for 2023-24 in full. This includes the wording which trade unions appear to be rescinding, that Both sides agree to de-escalate the dispute during the above described intense period of negotiations, including the impact of and employer responses to ASOS.**
These actions left UCEA with serious doubts about the unions’ commitment to negotiations on the 2023-24 pay round. UCEA, therefore, asked for an adjournment so that it could call an emergency meeting to reconsult with its Board. UCEA and employers remain committed to working hard to move the pay talks forward and negotiate over pay to address cost of living concerns.
Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:
“It is disappointing that this vital section to the agreed process is being challenged and undermined at the outset. It is perplexing that unions insist on their need to take industrial action during the period in which employers have actually agreed to meet with them. UCEA will consult Board members over this crucial element and we hope that trade unions carefully reconsider. We hope it does not hamper the real possibility to set aside differences in order to bring forward the New JNCHES 2023-24 pay negotiations in a bid to address the cost-of-living pressures facing staff.
“Separately, we hope UCU infighting can be resolved for the good of these pay talks and the sector as a whole. UCU HEC’s threat for ‘indefinite strike action’, which would target students in the new year, is incomprehensible when trade unions say they want to negotiate a new pay deal. This threat is not fair on students and it is not fair on UCU’s members who deserve a realistic and fair assessment of what is achievable on pay. Regardless, UCEA and its member HE institutions will seek to work with UCU and other trade unions to support staff and students and to avoid any unfair disruptive action.”
* EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite
**Process for the New JNCHES pay negotiating round for 2023-24
The parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:
To follow the New JNCHES Agreement in terms of the number of meetings, and the purpose of the negotiations, but over an accelerated and early timescale. Specifically, there would be up to three negotiating meetings in December and January. If these meetings do not reach an agreement, the parties will follow the New JNCHES Agreement Dispute Resolution process exhaustively, outlined in the Appendix to the New JNCHES Agreement, to conclude the pay round by the end of January 2023.
Both sides agree to de-escalate the dispute during the above described intense period of negotiations, including the impact of and employer responses to ASOS.
Whilst employers view the 2022-23 round as closed, employers also recognise that the unions do not regard the 2022-23 round as concluded and would want any settlement of 2023-24 to take account of this. The employers agreed to consider this as part of the 2023-24 pay round.
In these meetings all parties will strive to achieve a conclusion to the 2023-24 pay round, and commit to a number of meetings for further negotiation, in relation to the other aspects of the unions’ claim.
ENDS
Notes
For information relating to essential USS changes please go to USS Employers website at www.ussemployers.org.uk
Please contact the UUK media team for enquiries relating to USS at www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/creating-voice-our-members/media-team
For further information: Please contact Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Communications and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk)
