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.
“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.
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