3 February 2020
“We are dismayed, and many HE institutions will be so too, to see UCU’s HEC decide to ask the union’s members to once again use damaging strike action over last year’s national pay demands. Strike action should always be a last resort and we believe that UCU’s 70,000 members in the 147 institutions* should now be given a say. There are new ways forward being offered by HE employers - UCEA has made available significant positive proposals on key issues in UCU’s dispute – contractual arrangements, workload / mental health and gender pay gaps / ethnicity pay – developed following two months of talks with UCU**. Strikes in less than half the universities in the multi-employer negotiations are not the answer and are in real danger of undermining the national collective pay bargaining arrangements.
“UCEA has proactively and formally consulted its members in developing our significant new proposals as we can only move with the consensus of our members. UCU members deserve a chance to have their voices heard as to how they feel about the progress that has been made and whether they want to choose an alternative to further disruptive action***.”
*147 HE institutions participating in the 2019-20 New JNCHES pay round.
**UCEA’s substantial ‘Without Prejudice’ modified offer, passed to the trade unions on 27 January.
We are also aware that in relation to USS issues the tripartite talks between UCU, USS, and Universities UK, are constructive and continuing.
*** only 29% of UCU members took strike action during the 2019
ENDS
Notes
See UCEA’s 28 January 2020 news release ‘UCEA offers positive proposals to conclude pay round and end UCU’s dispute’
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) on 020 7383 2444.
“We are dismayed, and many HE institutions will be so too, to see UCU’s HEC decide to ask the union’s members to once again use damaging strike action over last year’s national pay demands. Strike action should always be a last resort and we believe that UCU’s 70,000 members in the 147 institutions* should now be given a say. There are new ways forward being offered by HE employers - UCEA has made available significant positive proposals on key issues in UCU’s dispute – contractual arrangements, workload / mental health and gender pay gaps / ethnicity pay – developed following two months of talks with UCU**. Strikes in less than half the universities in the multi-employer negotiations are not the answer and are in real danger of undermining the national collective pay bargaining arrangements.
“UCEA has proactively and formally consulted its members in developing our significant new proposals as we can only move with the consensus of our members. UCU members deserve a chance to have their voices heard as to how they feel about the progress that has been made and whether they want to choose an alternative to further disruptive action***.”
*147 HE institutions participating in the 2019-20 New JNCHES pay round.
**UCEA’s substantial ‘Without Prejudice’ modified offer, passed to the trade unions on 27 January.
We are also aware that in relation to USS issues the tripartite talks between UCU, USS, and Universities UK, are constructive and continuing.
*** only 29% of UCU members took strike action during the 2019
ENDS
Notes
See UCEA’s 28 January 2020 news release ‘UCEA offers positive proposals to conclude pay round and end UCU’s dispute’
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) on 020 7383 2444.
