Exam boycott called off as lecturers reach pay deal
Lecturers unions called off their boycott on the marking of university exam papers last night when they finally agreed a deal with employers over pay.
The University College union (UCU), made up of the recently merged Natfhe and AUT unions, accepted a 10.37 per cent pay increase over 22 months and an independent review to see what resources were available to increase salaries after that point.
The unions had argued that with the introduction of variable tuition fees this September, which will allow universities to charge students up to £3,000 a year, the time had now come to address years of low pay for lecturers.
However, the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) said the unions’ original call for 23 per cent over three years was unaffordable.
Education secretary Alan Johnson was forced to step in last week when what was meant to be a final offer of a 13.1 per cent rise over three years was rejected by the unions. He warned the degrees of thousands of students were being put at risk because of the dispute.
The lecturers had boycotted the marking of assessments and exams, and although many students backed their right to strike, there were serious concerns about the impact it would have on their futures.
The National Union of Students (NUS) welcomed the suspension of the strike last night, saying it ended what had been an “extremely difficult time” for students.
“We welcome this breakthrough and have real hope that in the near future a resolution will be reached that will mark a real step forward for everyone in the higher education sector – most importantly for students, but also for the lecturers and the support staff,” said president Kat Fletcher.
“However, while industrial action has been suspended, students are still experiencing very serious problems.
“As we wait for a resolution, and indeed even after a resolution has been reached, we will be doing everything in our power to support students at what remains a very stressful time.”
The independent review into future pay will report back in autumn 2008 to inform negotiations for the year 2009-10, and although the UCU said the deal did not include everything they wanted, it was the “best that can be achieved” at the current time.
Joint general secretaries Sally Hunt and Paul Mackney said: “Members will see significant increases in their salaries over the next two years, but we are acutely aware that this will still not make up the ground lost over the past decades. We will continue to make the case for higher staff pay in the future.”
They added: “We would also like to thank the National Union of Students and students around the country for their support at such a crucial time. We will be working to ensure the disruption is kept to a minimum and that students will be graduating on time.”
UCEA chairman Geoffrey Copland said he was “delighted” that the negotiations had finally come to a deal, adding: “We are particularly pleased that the immediate suspension of industrial action will stop disruption for students and allow completion of examination processes.”
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