8 September 2025
Raj Jethwa, UCEA Chief Executive said:
“Our sector and its students will be concerned about yet another trade union generated ballot for industrial action; this time over last year’s New JNCHES pay negotiations for 2025-26*.
“UCU’s Higher Education Committee (HEC) took this decision over a week ago, informing their members and HE institutions today. EIS, GMB, Unite and UNISON, will also be proceeding with statutory ballots for industrial action.
“It is palpably clear that the sector’s HE institutions cannot afford to improve the uplift. The sector is grappling with reduced income because of a decline in overseas students, increased costs for employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and an increase of over £370 million in employer National Insurance Contributions.
"UCEA has already begun to deliver on the other elements of our extensive final pay offer. This included progress on our proposals for joint work with the unions to further reduce pay gaps, and to promote good practice on contract types and workload. We were clear that this joint work would continue, as long as the unions did not ballot for IA. The trade unions’ decision means UCEA will now continue this work, but without the input of the trade unions.
“Employers take these issues extremely seriously. But they also take seriously the threat of industrial action and will have measures in place to mitigate the impact on students.
“The trade unions have today confirmed that their claim to prevent the IA ballot remains unchanged, including an uplift that is at least RPI + 3.5% or £2,500. This is perplexing when institutions cannot afford the current uplift. The sector urges the trade unions to understand sector financial sustainability, and reconsider its decision and the repercussions before any IA ballot is launched.”
* Subsequent uplift from 1 August 2025 - https://www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
Notes
The UK Retail Prices Index (RPI) annual inflation rate for August 2025 was 4.8% This would amount to 7.8%.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact - Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Public Affairs and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk) or Armelle Griffin (a.griffin@ucea.ac.uk) and Ashleigh Rigden (a.rigden@ucea.ac.uk), Communications Officers.
Raj Jethwa, UCEA Chief Executive said:
“Our sector and its students will be concerned about yet another trade union generated ballot for industrial action; this time over last year’s New JNCHES pay negotiations for 2025-26*.
“UCU’s Higher Education Committee (HEC) took this decision over a week ago, informing their members and HE institutions today. EIS, GMB, Unite and UNISON, will also be proceeding with statutory ballots for industrial action.
“It is palpably clear that the sector’s HE institutions cannot afford to improve the uplift. The sector is grappling with reduced income because of a decline in overseas students, increased costs for employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and an increase of over £370 million in employer National Insurance Contributions.
"UCEA has already begun to deliver on the other elements of our extensive final pay offer. This included progress on our proposals for joint work with the unions to further reduce pay gaps, and to promote good practice on contract types and workload. We were clear that this joint work would continue, as long as the unions did not ballot for IA. The trade unions’ decision means UCEA will now continue this work, but without the input of the trade unions.
“Employers take these issues extremely seriously. But they also take seriously the threat of industrial action and will have measures in place to mitigate the impact on students.
“The trade unions have today confirmed that their claim to prevent the IA ballot remains unchanged, including an uplift that is at least RPI + 3.5% or £2,500. This is perplexing when institutions cannot afford the current uplift. The sector urges the trade unions to understand sector financial sustainability, and reconsider its decision and the repercussions before any IA ballot is launched.”
* Subsequent uplift from 1 August 2025 - https://www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
Notes
The UK Retail Prices Index (RPI) annual inflation rate for August 2025 was 4.8% This would amount to 7.8%.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact - Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Public Affairs and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk) or Armelle Griffin (a.griffin@ucea.ac.uk) and Ashleigh Rigden (a.rigden@ucea.ac.uk), Communications Officers.
