A message from Roger

The UCU general secretary ballot result has now been declared and Sally Hunt has been elected. The union and our members face major and difficult challenges from employers and government in almost every aspect of our working lives. The turnout was just 13.9 per cent which in itself suggests the scale of the challenge the union faces. I wish Sally Hunt very well in meeting those challenges. To meet them successfully will require a clear strategic vision and a determined articulate response which members can have confidence in and ownership of. I will seek to play my part in ensuring that is the case through my continuing role as Head of Equality and Employment Rights Finally I would like to sincerely thank the hundreds of members who sent messages of support and campaigned during the election.

Monday, 15 January 2007

Saturday 6th January

Pay porkies?

“This year’s Higher Education Pay and Prices Index shows that less inflation was experienced by universities than has been the case for some time. However, this is mainly caused by the fact that items related to salaries, which make up a large part of the weighting of the index showed a low increase”

UUK research report Higher Education Pay and Prices Index July 2006

So the cat is out of the bag. Despite the Framework Agreement, and despite the 3% pay rise of 2005 and despite incremental progression, the cost of salaries “has risen at a rate less than the Retail Prices Index”. HE members will recall how the employers were completely unable to afford a decent pay rise (except for themselves). So now we know why………

Next year’s report will say the same because despite the creative accounting with the pay settlement the actual cash in members’ pay packets this year is 3.5% from the national pay deal and for most members a small assimilation rise arising from the Framework. At a time of inflation of 3.9% (November 2006) members will draw their own conclusion about the outcome of the 2006 pay dispute in higher education.

Incidentally, the first General Secretary hustings at the School of Oriental and African studies was reported in detail in the Times Higher on Friday and you can read the debate on pay at Hustings brings out anger over pay dispute.The THES news - http://www.thes.co.uk

See also the letter sent from UCEA in May 2006.
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A trade unionist all his working life. An activist and a proud campaigner, Roger has consistently worked to defend human rights of workers. As the leader of the Equality and Employment Rights team in the newly formed UCU he continues to unite the movement around equality and keep employment rights at the top of the agenda.