UK higher education staff may have to wait to receive a pay rise this year amid uncertainty over whether unions plan to strike over the deal.
The Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (Ucea) has said it is unable to impose this year’s pay offer, as it has done in recent years, because the unions are yet to formally declare whether they are in dispute.
Following a round of pay talks earlier this year, Ucea announced it had made an offer of a 2 per cent pay rise for most eligible staff. It was due to take effect from 1 August.
However, progress on agreeing the rise has stalled, leaving universities unable to implement any increases for staff. Last year the employer body told universities on 17 July to go ahead and implement the rise, despite not having agreement from the unions.
The University and College Union (UCU) has consulted its members over the offer, with 30.4 per cent voting in an online ballot. A total of 69.3 per cent voted to reject the offer and 60.2 per cent said they were willing to partake in industrial action to improve it.
