Aberdeen Universities UNISON

UNISON Consults on Final Pay Offer

We have now received a "full and final" written pay offer from the national employers’ organisation the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

The offer for 2016-17 follows pay talks between the employers and joint higher ed unions, and consists of:

• a 1.1% increase from 1 August for all staff covered by the higher education national agreement, who are on point 8 and above of the national pay spine;
• increases of between 3.1% and 1.6% for staff on points 1 to 7 of the spine (note this is not the same as "grades" at the universities - see below)

UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive, the union’s national committee for HE, is consulting members on this offer.

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Categories: Branch | Campaigns | Consultation | Members | Pay

RGU Announces £6m Cuts to Staff and Services

Members will by now be aware of the Principal’s announcement at RGU with regard to the financial situation at the University, and the start of a Voluntary Severance scheme to attempt to reach the stated required cost reduction of £6 million (£2 million non-pay costs, and £4 million staffing costs).

The University has also stated that in the event that these savings levels cannot be achieved through Voluntary Severance alone, that future voluntary or compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out.

At this stage, UNISON along with the other campus trade unions have asked the University to provide us with the business case and justification for the level of cuts being sought. We have also asked what non-pay costs have been considered, and also have asked that the University make a clear statement rejecting the use of compulsory redundancies. UNISON will expect to be involved in any consultations where proposals for restructuring are being looked at and where our members are at risk.

If you have any specific questions, comments or concerns let us know. We understand that times like this can be very difficult for everyone and if there is anything else you would like to see in the meantime please get in touch.

Categories: Campaigns | Members

Revoke Donald Trump's Honorary Degree

UPDATE: RGU have announced that they are to revoke Trump's Honorary Degree for “statements that are wholly incompatible with the ethos and values of the University”.  Well done RGU!

UNISON members working at Robert Gordon University have written to the Principal of Robert Gordon University calling on them to remove his honorary degree because he is reported to have called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States"

UNISON believes this to be unacceptable.

Colin Jones, Robert Gordon UNISON steward said “Robert Gordon University has a strong international reputation and UNISON believes that our University's association with Donald Trump can only undermine all the hard work we have put into building this worldwide reputation.

We believe that the University must make it as clear as possible that such statements are both unacceptable and irresponsible. They are divisive and put Muslim friends, family and colleagues in danger of discrimination and reprisals, and will make international relations worse not better.

Categories: Branch | Campaigns

Protect The Right to Strike

The Conservative Government's Trade Union Bill is a new set of laws that will severely restrict working peoples’ ability to organise for their own rights and campaign for a more progressive society. It will go through Parliament this Autumn and could be law by February 2016 and will apply in England, Scotland and Wales.

UNISON is campaigning against the Trade Union Bill because we believe MPs should be focusing on the real problems our country faces and working with everyone, including trade unions, to solve them, rather than taking away people’s right to be supported at work.

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Categories: Campaigns | Information

HE members vote to accept pay offer

UNISON’s higher education service group executive has decided to accept the employer’s pay offer, after 72% of members voted to back it.

The executive met on 30 June to consider the result of the branch consultative ballot on this year’s pay offer from the national employers’ organisation, the University and Colleges Employers’ Association.

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Categories: Campaigns | Pay

HE Employers Make Final Pay Offer

UNISON has received a "full and final" pay offer from higher education employers, which the union's higher education service group executive will discuss on Monday 18 May.

The offer for 2015-16 follows pay talks between the employers and joint higher ed unions, and consists of:

• a 1% increase from 1 August for all staff covered by the higher education national agreement, who are on point 9 and above of the national pay spine;
• increases of between 2.6% and 1.1% for staff on points 1 to 8 of the spine (note this is not the same as "grades" at the universities - see more information below), which would bring the lowest salary (point 1) up to the current living wage rate of £7.85 an hour for a 35-hour week.

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Categories: Campaigns | Pay

UNISON seeks improved pay offer over 0.9%

UNISON will seek an improved pay offer when unions and higher education employers meet at their next scheduled negotiating session on 12 May.

This follows an offer from the University and Colleges Employers Association for a 0.9% pay rise for pay spine point 9 and above, with higher increases on points 1-8, (see below).

This would mean the starting point of the higher education pay spine would equal the living wage.

Scottish universities have separately confirmed that they will pay all staff at the country's 19 higher education institutions at least the living wage of £7.85 an hour "for the foreseeable future".

A spokeswoman for Universities Scotland added: "The intention of every institution in the sector to pay the living wage for the foreseeable future is sincerely meant, but it as far as the sector is able to commit at present, given the unpredictable nature of annual increases in the living wage and uncertainty in higher education funding."

"We will continue to negotiate with the employers to improve the opening offer," commented UNISON national secretary Jon Richard. "We will continue to press universities to address low pay in the sector."

• Read the full article on the national UNISON website

Categories: Campaigns | Pay