The University and College Union (UCU) has warned the UCEA employers’ association that there is still a long way to go despite lecturers and other college staff voting by a substantial majority for a three-year pay deal.
Members of the UCU voted by a substantial majority in favour of the deal (71%), which increases salaries for academic and related staff by 10.37% over the next two years, with a minimum increase of 2.5% in the third year and further negotiations when an independent review of university finances has reported.
Sally Hunt, UCU joint general secretary said: “The very high turnout shows the level of engagement with the union that members have had during the dispute. The final settlement provides a solid first step towards restoring pay levels in our universities to those of comparable professions, but our employers must realise that there remains a long way to go.”
Hunt called for an urgent reform of national bargaining structures to prevent a repeat of the industrial action that dragged on for months. The row led to lecturers boycotting exam and coursework marking.
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“This dispute has shown that the days when universities could hold salaries down and take our members’ goodwill for granted are over for good,” she said.
