Strike threat averted as UCU and employers look forward to new talks
13 March 2009
UCU said today that it was looking to take forward a new agenda for negotiations around pay and conditions for university staff.
The union had been locked in talks with the employers' representatives, the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA), since January trying to iron out differences around how future negotiations could proceed.
The union also confirmed today that it has suspended all plans to ballot members over industrial action on the issues that had threatened to provoke unrest in the higher education sector. It said it was now looking forward to sitting down with all the unions that represent higher education staff and working on a joint approach on pay to take to UCEA in the coming weeks.
The four issues that had threatened to destabilise the sector were employer threats of a pay freeze and the undermining of national bargaining, UCU's ability to take industrial action at a time of its choosing and the lack of opportunity for unions to discuss issues relevant to distinct occupations across higher education.
UCU said it was pleased that, following the extensive talks, UCEA has now ruled out a pay freeze for the forthcoming pay round and has reaffirmed its commitment to national bargaining. Crucially a review of the negotiating timetable has been agreed and it is accepted that the timetable does not restrict the ability for UCU to take industrial action. An agreement has also been made that issues relating to distinct occupations can be discussed with the relevant unions.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We are pleased that the talks have produced a positive outcome for the higher education sector. We always believed that with goodwill on both sides we could reach an agreement without serious disruption in our universities. We thank ACAS for facilitating the talks and enabling us to thrash this out.
'UCU's main objective within the new bargaining machinery will be to promote the interests of academic and academic-related staff, as well as working together with our fellow unions to protect pay, improve conditions, reduce workloads and defend jobs.'
The union also confirmed today that it has suspended all plans to ballot members over industrial action on the issues that had threatened to provoke unrest in the higher education sector. It said it was now looking forward to sitting down with all the unions that represent higher education staff and working on a joint approach on pay to take to UCEA in the coming weeks.
The four issues that had threatened to destabilise the sector were employer threats of a pay freeze and the undermining of national bargaining, UCU's ability to take industrial action at a time of its choosing and the lack of opportunity for unions to discuss issues relevant to distinct occupations across higher education.
UCU said it was pleased that, following the extensive talks, UCEA has now ruled out a pay freeze for the forthcoming pay round and has reaffirmed its commitment to national bargaining. Crucially a review of the negotiating timetable has been agreed and it is accepted that the timetable does not restrict the ability for UCU to take industrial action. An agreement has also been made that issues relating to distinct occupations can be discussed with the relevant unions.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We are pleased that the talks have produced a positive outcome for the higher education sector. We always believed that with goodwill on both sides we could reach an agreement without serious disruption in our universities. We thank ACAS for facilitating the talks and enabling us to thrash this out.
'UCU's main objective within the new bargaining machinery will be to promote the interests of academic and academic-related staff, as well as working together with our fellow unions to protect pay, improve conditions, reduce workloads and defend jobs.'
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