Unions' pay demand labelled 'April Fools' joke' by UCEA

The unions presented their joint claim for 2023-24 for a pay award of RPI + 2% to address the cost-of-living crisis university workers are facing. In response, a representative from UCEA likened the claim to an 'April Fools' joke'.

The vice-chancellor body refused to significantly improve upon the 5% offer, but did confirm that when the parties next meet on Wednesday 25 January an updated offer would be presented.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'UCU went into pay negotiations yesterday hoping university employers would look for ways to help staff through the cost of living crisis. Instead, our union's demand for an inflation matching pay offer was labelled an 'April Fools' joke' by vice-chancellor body UCEA.

'Employers might find over a decade of falling wages a laughing matter, but we don't, and nor will the students who are faced with the prospect of 18 days of strike action in February and March.

'Employers need to return with a better offer, and a more serious attitude to negotiations when they resume on 25 January.'

Full statement by UCU, EIS, GMB, UNISON and Unite:

The joint unions arrived at today's meeting prepared to enter serious negotiations. We were disappointed that UCEA did not appear to share that approach.

We presented our joint union claim for pay, which was RPI + 2% or £4K (whichever is higher) to address the need for a cost-of-living adjustment and begin to address the real terms decrease in salaries over the past decade. In response, this claim was described as an 'April Fools' joke' by UCEA. UCEA indicated that there was no prospect of significantly improving their offer. 

However, after an adjournment they informed us that they were willing to go away and remodel their offer with the possibility of a very modest increase in the quantum of funding. We are meeting with UCEA next on Wednesday 25 January, and we hope that the employers will engage in serious negotiations with us.