HE employers and unions are united in their view of the vital contribution staff at all levels make to the continuing success of the UK HE sector and the need for them to be appropriately rewarded.
 
As such members of JNCHES have worked to secure consensus on a new agreement to modernise the way in which national negotiations are conducted. On 29 September 2008, the employers represented by UCEA and the following HE trade unions - EIS, GMB, UNISON and Unite (Amicus and T&G sections) - met to sign the New JNCHES Agreement at the first meeting of the New JNCHES.

 

At this meeting the members signed and formally agreed to the New JNCHES constitution. They agreed the timetable that will apply in 2008-09 including dates for the coming round of negotiations on pay in HE from 1 August 2009.  Discussion also took place regarding preparations for the 2009 round of negotiations and the employers explained the new arrangements in place for HEIs participating in the process. Members of the New JNCHES released a joint press release outlining their pleasure in signing this revised agreement. For more information read the written correspondence supporting New JNCHES from the above trade unions.
 
After Acas brokered talks in the spring of 2009, all parties (UCEA, EIS, GMB, UNISON and Unite) agreed to a statement of implementation relating to New JNCHES in March 2009, which in turn facilitated the UCU's signing of the New JNCHES Agreement on 24 March 2009. The first New JNCHES 2009 Pay Negotiations meeting took place on 30 March 2009.

 

For full details surrounding New JNCHES view the National Negotiations Timeline.

 

For background on JNCHES, read the detail of the 2001 JNCHES agreement and the 2006 Pay Agreement.