15 March 2023
UCEA and TUs consulting following agreement on the ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round
Following a constructive meeting between UCEA and the Joint HE Trade Unions on Tuesday 14 March 2023, talks have now concluded on the terms of reference for pay spine, workload, contract types and pay gaps negotiations. These Acas-faciltated talks were dedicated to agreeing terms of reference for the second phase* of negotiations for 2023-24.
The Joint HE Trade Unions and UCEA will now consult their respective structures on these terms of reference as a basis for commencing these negotiations.
This is an important step in phase 2 of the negotiations for 2023-24, with the parties agreeing to proceed on the jointly agreed work necessary on these priority issues.
UCEA, representing 144 participating HE employers, had made the final pay offer of between 8% and 5% in January. This was more than three months in advance of the usual pay talks timetable, with HE institutions and trade unions fully recognising the urgent inflationary pressures currently facing all staff.
Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:
“We welcome this important progress following the constructive meetings and genuine determination from all parties to conclude the terms of reference for the priority issues of the pay spine restructuring, workload issues, contract types and pay gaps negotiations.
“Despite ongoing strike action attempts and further threats of disruption, employers have remained committed to these talks over essential terms of reference for key non-pay issues. This follows employers' commitment to early implementation of the pay uplift. While addressing issues raised by the unions, we very much hope this work will build on the extensive good practice which already exists in the sector. As discussed in our meeting yesterday, we have also scheduled a meeting of the UCEA Board this Thursday to consider and sign-off these ToRs on behalf of participating employers.”
*The first phase was dedicated to pay discussions: www.ucea.ac.uk/news-releases/17feb23/
The Joint statement:
Following a meeting between UCEA and the Joint HE Trade Unions on Tuesday 14 March 2023, facilitated by Acas, agreement has been reached on terms of reference for detailed negotiations covering a review of the UK HE pay spine, workload, contract types and equality pay gaps. The Joint HE Trade Unions and UCEA will now consult their respective constituencies on these terms of reference as a basis for commencing those negotiations over pay-related matters.
For clarity, on pay, both parties agreed on 17 February 2023 that some progress at the lower end of the pay spine has been made in Acas discussions as part of the New JNCHES Dispute Resolution Procedure, although an impasse, rather than an agreement, has been reached. It was agreed that with regard to pay the Dispute Resolution Procedure had been exhausted.
Separate to this progression, UUK issued the following statement: Universities UK statement on behalf of USS employers
ENDS
Notes
JNCHES - Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff
The five HE trade unions are EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite.
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)
UCEA and TUs consulting following agreement on the ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round
Following a constructive meeting between UCEA and the Joint HE Trade Unions on Tuesday 14 March 2023, talks have now concluded on the terms of reference for pay spine, workload, contract types and pay gaps negotiations. These Acas-faciltated talks were dedicated to agreeing terms of reference for the second phase* of negotiations for 2023-24.
The Joint HE Trade Unions and UCEA will now consult their respective structures on these terms of reference as a basis for commencing these negotiations.
This is an important step in phase 2 of the negotiations for 2023-24, with the parties agreeing to proceed on the jointly agreed work necessary on these priority issues.
UCEA, representing 144 participating HE employers, had made the final pay offer of between 8% and 5% in January. This was more than three months in advance of the usual pay talks timetable, with HE institutions and trade unions fully recognising the urgent inflationary pressures currently facing all staff.
Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:
“We welcome this important progress following the constructive meetings and genuine determination from all parties to conclude the terms of reference for the priority issues of the pay spine restructuring, workload issues, contract types and pay gaps negotiations.
“Despite ongoing strike action attempts and further threats of disruption, employers have remained committed to these talks over essential terms of reference for key non-pay issues. This follows employers' commitment to early implementation of the pay uplift. While addressing issues raised by the unions, we very much hope this work will build on the extensive good practice which already exists in the sector. As discussed in our meeting yesterday, we have also scheduled a meeting of the UCEA Board this Thursday to consider and sign-off these ToRs on behalf of participating employers.”
*The first phase was dedicated to pay discussions: www.ucea.ac.uk/news-releases/17feb23/
The Joint statement:
Following a meeting between UCEA and the Joint HE Trade Unions on Tuesday 14 March 2023, facilitated by Acas, agreement has been reached on terms of reference for detailed negotiations covering a review of the UK HE pay spine, workload, contract types and equality pay gaps. The Joint HE Trade Unions and UCEA will now consult their respective constituencies on these terms of reference as a basis for commencing those negotiations over pay-related matters.
For clarity, on pay, both parties agreed on 17 February 2023 that some progress at the lower end of the pay spine has been made in Acas discussions as part of the New JNCHES Dispute Resolution Procedure, although an impasse, rather than an agreement, has been reached. It was agreed that with regard to pay the Dispute Resolution Procedure had been exhausted.
Separate to this progression, UUK issued the following statement: Universities UK statement on behalf of USS employers
ENDS
Notes
JNCHES - Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff
The five HE trade unions are EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite.
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)
