Update from Ian Cheetham, Director of Human Resources:
The Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and the Higher Education trade unions met on 19 April 2011 for the first meeting of the pay negotiating round for 2011-12.
UCEA received the unions’ joint claim which included an increase on all pay points with reference to the Retail Prices Index (5.5% in March 2011), or a lump-sum, plus support for the low paid. The claim also includes a number of additional elements both pay-related and otherwise.
UCEA and the unions discussed the increasingly complex and challenging economic climate and sector-specific concerns alongside the details of their claim and issues of affordability. The employers and unions are now reflecting on the discussions before returning to the next scheduled meeting on Thursday 26 May 2011.