University support staff have accepted a 6.7 per cent pay
deal for the sector’s lowest paid workers, such as cleaners, caterers, porters
and gardeners.
Members affiliated to the T & G union voted 95 per cent
in favour of the pay deal, which has been backdated from this April.
It will mean a rise of £560 a year for manual and ancillary
staff, who are currently on an annual salary of just £8,345.
The comparative increase for staff at new universities is
5.1 per cent over 11 months – equivalent to £470 extra from September.
T & G national secretary Chris Kaufman said, “Our
members have given this deal their full and firm backing because it is the best
offer for the lowest paid in living memory.”
The pay deal comes as part of a new National Council
negotiating structure, which will demolish historical discrepancies in pay
between old and new universities, men and women, manual and non-manual and
temporary and permanent staff.
Three joint working parties will look at establishing a
single pay spine, equal pay and a reduction in working hours.
Kaufman added, “The promise of single status means that all
staff, from porters to professors, will be treated equally when it comes to
hours, sick pay, holidays and training.”
Karen
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