UCU comment on appointment of new UCEA chair

Professor Burnett will replace outgoing chair Professor Sir Bill Wakeham on 1 October and hold the post for three years.
 
The union said it particularly welcomed comments from Professor Burnett around everyone in higher education working together to achieve sector stability and added that it hoped his experience on the employers' pension forum would ensure a greater understanding on the UCEA side of how dear university staff hold their pension rights.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We are looking forward to working with Professor Burnett and wish him all the very best in his new role. We hope his comments about the sector working together are genuine and we will see a marked change in UCEA's unyielding approach to negotiations. We further hope that Professor Burnett will be keener to consider initiatives for the benefit of the sector and recognise the need for national cohesion within higher education.
 
'We are aware of Professor Burnett's work with the employers' pension forum and are sure he's aware that UCU members see pension as deferred pay and an important part of their remunerations.'