UK universities up pay rise offer as talks conclude

The final UCEA offer for 24/25 is disappointing. The joint union claim demanded RPI + 2% (i.e. a circa 5% increase in total) and would have expected August 2024 implementation. The 2.5% that most colleagues have been offered (and only for delayed full implementation in March 2025) is a real terms pay cut falling below RPI (currently circa 3%). The offer can be contrasted with the 5.5% increase recently agreed at Queen's University Belfast for 24/25 (and which totals 13% over the next 3 years). Notably, this was agreed after QUB was expelled from UCEA for making a local agreement on pay in 2023. Clearly, the "sector collective" pay negotiation model centered around UCEA is not working. UCEA plays to the lowest common denominator in terms of university financial strength. Most institutions could offer fair pay for their academics, as Queen's has demonstrated. Let's cut out the UCEA middle man and engage in local negotiations henceforth.

As a lecturer, I am gutted to see that we are considered as high salary while in London we can't barely sustain a normal life. It is very unfair to consider that we are not hit by inflation the same as lower pay spine point while our rent have been increased by 25% on average last 2 years. Once again, these negotiation are not focusing on the lecturer issues and make me think that leaving academia might be better if I want to have a decent salary.

Back to the picket line

Splitting the raise and further compression of the pay scale is deeply disappointing. I could live with 2.5% if it was implemented immediately.