UCU pushes universities to up pay offer after public sector rises

The public sector pay award is only irrelevant to Raj Jethwa as he continues to bury his head in the sand. Why would the majority of HE staff accept a 5% award lower than all public sector rises and significantly lower than inflation ? The public sector award will only galvanize staff to fight harder to get what is fair. Let us hope today's negotiations are productive else QUB's bold actions will just be the start.

What I don't understand is why all of those on Grade 5 are getting 6%, except for those on the top spinal point. Why are SP 26 only getting 5% when there is no increase in benefits until FA 6 SP 27? Where was the logic in making the gap between SP 25 and SP 26 smaller than any other SP?

I thought the UCU had moved away from focusing on aggregate 'reserves' to 'surpluses' given the leadership does not understand what a reserve in relation to the financial position of universities? Given the marketisation of HE, a single pay increase for the whole sector seems to be constrained by the tail of relativity weaker institutions. The whole system is creaking under multiple pressures. No envious of Sir Keir inheriting this mess. The strategic importance of the HE sector should be at the forefront of any future Labour government in my opinion.

'Mr Jethwa claimed that the public sector pay award was “irrelevant” to the higher education dispute.' I started working in higher education because I thought it was in the public sector. Who decided to privatise universities and when will we get to vote on this?

Daniel: Tony Blair.