Higher Education Pay Negotiations: Highlights & Challenges
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How is pay negotiated in HE?
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What happened in 2020/21?
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Why ballot?
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What next
HE Pay negotiations
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Pay negotiations each year
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New JNCHES constitution governs talks
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UCEA represents HE employers
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5 unions: UNISON, UCU, EIS, Unite, GMB
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Joint union pay claim submitted each year
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Pay rise from 1 August each year
Unions’ Pay Claim 2020/21
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Main elements:
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RPI + 5%; minimum of £10 per hour
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Foundation Living Wage accreditation;
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Eliminate the gender pay gap & the ethnic pay gap; impact of
intersectionality on the pay gap;
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A maximum 35 hour working week for all
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Scottish sub-committee of JNCHES
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Workload and stress
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Precarious work and outsourcing
Pay negotiation meetings
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Normally three pay meetings: March, April, May
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(then implemented on 1 August)
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No August pay rise
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Unions pushed for meetings - July, September, October 2020
Final pay offer
2020/21
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Limited joint work on gender & ethnic pay gap
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Limited joint work on workload – impact of COVID
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Limited joint work on casual contracts – zero hours - no offer
outsourcing
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Offer to scope out 35-hour week
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Limited joint work on career development
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No offer on Scottish meetings
UNISON response?
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UNISON SGE decided to reject the pay freeze
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Pay cut – inflation not at 0%
– so pay now worth less
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Other unions made the same decision
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HE SGE decided:
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Consultation on final offer
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Online consultation in 2020
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Members sent 3 emails to vote online
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Website link to vote on
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Result = 86% rejected pay freeze and final offer (varied
turnout)
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SGE decided to lodge dispute
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Two dispute meetings January 2021 – other unions
joined in – but still no offer on pay
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SGE decided to ballot for strike action
Ballots on 2020/21 final pay offer
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New ballot policy for UNISON in HE – decided at HE
conference 2020
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Not run one single, national ballot of all HEIs in national
bargaining as we have done previously
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Single question on taking strike action (no action short of strike Q)
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SGE asked branches which ones wanted to run ballots
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49 HEIs across UK (42 England, 1 NI, 6 Scotland)
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Full list on our
website
(unison.org.uk/thanksfornothing)
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SGE agreed different timetable for different nations to maximise
turnout
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How can members get involved?
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Talk to your colleagues about the pay freeze – if they’re also
members ask them to vote
•
Tell them to look out for their ballot papers – and to post them
straightaway!
•
New members get a vote – new joiners by 30 July in England,
17 August in Scotland and 2 September in NI – so ask anyone
new to your team to join UNISON ASAP.
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This is the what the
envelope will look like!
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0800 0 857 857
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You can call this number if you haven’t received your ballot
paper
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Make sure you call it before the hotline closes
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(4 August England; 20 August Scotland; 7 September NI)
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Not a pay freeze – 0% is really a pay cut as inflation continues
to rise
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Last HE pay rise was 1 August 2019 –
2 years ago
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HE staff work incredibly hard, many are low paid, we
need
a
pay rise
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Standing together and standing up will send a strong message
to university employers that they need to think again.
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5
%
p
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?
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The HE employers have offered 1.5% for most HE employees
from 1 August 2021.
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This won’t be backdated to 1 August 2020 – for the past year
there hasn’t been a pay rise.
•
This ballot is about the pay freeze over the past year – and is
calling on university employers to think again.
•
Outcome of consultation being considered by SGE on 30 June
– branches will be kept informed.
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–
w
h
a
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c
a
n
I
d
o
?
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Visit our campaign webpage
– FAQs, resources, hotline
number
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You can post our social media and
email graphics
•
You can download the posters to print and
put up if you’re on campus
•
Video
to share on social media
S
h
a
r
e
y
o
u
r
s
t
o
r
y
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Post short video of saying ‘why I’m voting for action’
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Just 10 – 30 seconds long
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Post on Twitter – tag @UNISONinHE and #ThanksForNothing
•
Or simply post your written message or photos using
#ThanksForNothing
Key messages
•
Remember – every vote counts –
your
vote counts
•
Ask your colleagues to join the union to build a strong
campaign
•
Taking action at all 49 HEIs more likely to be successful
•
Watch and share our video – let’s take action together to
give the employers a clear message that we don’t accept
the pay freeze
•
Good luck!
W
h
a
t
h
a
p
p
e
n
s
n
e
x
t
?
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Make sure you vote in good time
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When ballots have closed SGE will meet to consider timetable
for action and next steps
•
All branches will be kept informed – so they’ll let you know
•
Thanks for listening
Stay in touch
•
HE UNISON news:
unison.org.uk
•
Email:
education@unison.co.uk
•
Facebook:
UNISONinHigherEducation
•
Twitter:
@UNISONinHE
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Questions?
Higher Education pay negotiations in the UK for the year 2020/21 faced hurdles like a pay freeze, limited joint work on gender and ethnic pay gaps, and other important issues. Unions submitted a pay claim demanding a rise, but due to COVID-19, negotiations were disrupted. Despite rejection of the pay freeze offer, disputes and strike action ballots followed, showing the complexity of negotiating fair pay in the Higher Education sector.
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Presentation Transcript
This presentation This presentation How is pay negotiated in HE? What happened in 2020/21? Why ballot? What next
HE Pay negotiations Pay negotiations each year New JNCHES constitution governs talks UCEA represents HE employers 5 unions: UNISON, UCU, EIS, Unite, GMB Joint union pay claim submitted each year Pay rise from 1 August each year
Unions Pay Claim 2020/21 Main elements: RPI + 5%; minimum of 10 per hour Foundation Living Wage accreditation; Eliminate the gender pay gap & the ethnic pay gap; impact of intersectionality on the pay gap; A maximum 35 hour working week for all Scottish sub-committee of JNCHES Workload and stress Precarious work and outsourcing
Pay negotiation meetings Normally three pay meetings: March, April, May (then implemented on 1 August) but in 2020 COVID happened no negotiations & employers announced pay freeze in July 2020. No August pay rise Unions pushed for meetings - July, September, October 2020
Final pay offer 2020/21 Pay freeze Limited joint work on gender & ethnic pay gap Limited joint work on workload impact of COVID Limited joint work on casual contracts zero hours - no offer outsourcing Offer to scope out 35-hour week Limited joint work on career development No offer on Scottish meetings
UNISON response? UNISON SGE decided to reject the pay freeze Pay cut inflation not at 0% so pay now worth less Other unions made the same decision HE SGE decided: to consult members online consultation to recommend rejection
Consultation on final offer Online consultation in 2020 Members sent 3 emails to vote online Website link to vote on Result = 86% rejected pay freeze and final offer (varied turnout) SGE decided to lodge dispute Two dispute meetings January 2021 other unions joined in but still no offer on pay SGE decided to ballot for strike action
Ballots on 2020/21 final pay offer New ballot policy for UNISON in HE decided at HE conference 2020 Disaggregate ballots i.e. a series of coordinated, local ballots Not run one single, national ballot of all HEIs in national bargaining as we have done previously Single question on taking strike action (no action short of strike Q) SGE asked branches which ones wanted to run ballots
Where are we balloting? Where are we balloting? And when? And when? 49 HEIs across UK (42 England, 1 NI, 6 Scotland) Full list on our website (unison.org.uk/thanksfornothing) SGE agreed different timetable for different nations to maximise turnout
Ballot dates across UK Ballot dates across UK Opens Closes Hotline dates England 28 June 10 August 6 July to 4 August Scotland 2 August 27 August 9 August to 20 August Northern Ireland 28 June 13 September 6 July to 7 September
How can members get involved? Talk to your colleagues about the pay freeze if they re also members ask them to vote Tell them to look out for their ballot papers and to post them straightaway! New members get a vote new joiners by 30 July in England, 17 August in Scotland and 2 September in NI so ask anyone new to your team to join UNISON ASAP.
Look out for ballot envelope Look out for ballot envelope This is the what the envelope will look like!
Ballot hotline Ballot hotline 0800 0 857 857 You can call this number if you haven t received your ballot paper Make sure you call it before the hotline closes (4 August England; 20 August Scotland; 7 September NI)
Why should we vote for action? Why should we vote for action? Not a pay freeze 0% is really a pay cut as inflation continues to rise Last HE pay rise was 1 August 2019 2 years ago HE staff work incredibly hard, many are low paid, we need a pay rise Standing together and standing up will send a strong message to university employers that they need to think again.
What about the 1.5% pay offer? What about the 1.5% pay offer? The HE employers have offered 1.5% for most HE employees from 1 August 2021. This won t be backdated to 1 August 2020 for the past year there hasn t been a pay rise. This ballot is about the pay freeze over the past year and is calling on university employers to think again. Outcome of consultation being considered by SGE on 30 June branches will be kept informed.
Campaign resources Campaign resources what can I do? do? what can I Visit our campaign webpage FAQs, resources, hotline number You can post our social media and email graphics You can download the posters to print and put up if you re on campus Video to share on social media
Share your story Share your story Post short video of saying why I m voting for action Just 10 30 seconds long Post on Twitter tag @UNISONinHE and #ThanksForNothing Or simply post your written message or photos using #ThanksForNothing
Key messages Remember every vote counts your vote counts Ask your colleagues to join the union to build a strong campaign Taking action at all 49 HEIs more likely to be successful Watch and share our video let s take action together to give the employers a clear message that we don t accept the pay freeze Good luck!
What happens next? What happens next? Make sure you vote in good time When ballots have closed SGE will meet to consider timetable for action and next steps All branches will be kept informed so they ll let you know Thanks for listening
Stay in touch HE UNISON news: Email: Facebook: Twitter: unison.org.uk education@unison.co.uk UNISONinHigherEducation @UNISONinHE
HE pay 2020/21 HE pay 2020/21 Questions?
