UNISON is balloting members who work in universities on whether to accept or reject the employers’ miserly pay offer of 1.1%.
UNISON’s higher education committee recommends members reject the pay offer and take industrial action to seek an improved offer.
With universities putting billions away in the bank last year, it’s clear money is available for a pay increase.
In 2014 to 2015 the average salary of a UK vice chancellor was £272,000 and their average pay rise was a massive 6.1%. The number of staff paid above £100,000 per year is also increasing.
UNISON expects employers to use the uncertainty caused by the EU referendum decision as another excuse to avoid a decent pay award. However, the long-term impact of the EU vote is not known and currently the UK remains in the EU. The world-class reputation of UK universities should remain unaffected by the Brexit decision.
UNISON believes no employee in higher education should be paid less than the Foundation Living Wage (£8.25p / £9.40 in London) and it’s time for incomes for everyone working on campus to match the rising costs of living.
A clear majority of members rejected the pay offer in UNISON’s pay consultation. Therefore UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive (HESGE) decided to ballot members and call on them to take escalating industrial action this autumn.
Key dates for the ballot period are as follows:
- Ballot notices to employers 18 Aug 2016 despatched
- Ballot opens 30 Aug 2016
- Ballot hotline Opens 5 Sept 2016
- Last date for members to join and receive a ballot paper 15 Sept 2016 (12 noon)
- Ballot closes and results announced 19 Sept 2016
- SGE meets to consider result 20 Sept 2016
Look out for ballot papers or emails coming your way very soon.