There is a major crisis within higher education. After years of low pay, below inflation offers and with the continuing cost of living crisis – your pay should be a priority.
When it comes to setting budgets, support staff pay should always be on the priority list. Higher education needs be funded properly to avoid job cuts and unfair pay.
HE pay 2025/26
The New JNCHES Committee for Higher Education Pay met on 15 May 2025. The employer’s body UCEA, made a full and final offer of a 1.4% increase on all pay points, along with proposals to delete points 5 and 6 of the pay scale.
All unions have rejected the offer, and UNISON, UCU, EIS and Unite agreed to ballot members for industrial action on the offer.
The UNISON Higher Education Service Group Executive (HESGE) decided to run a disaggregated ballot of members in those universities covered by the New JNCHES pay bargaining arrangements (other than in a small number of branches where we have limited membership).
UNISON members in some branches that met the 50% turnout threshold are taking industrial action. If your branch is taking action, you will be informed. Materials such as placards and leaflets are available on the UNISON shop:
UNISON members in branches that were close to the 50% turnout threshold are being re-balloted. If you work in one of those branches you will be contacted via email and your ballot papers will arrive via a green envelope – look out for them!
The ballot will run 27 February – 27 March 2026.
Materials such as leaflets, posters and stickers are available on the UNISON shop:
Digital graphics can be found in our media library:
The joint unions have written to UCEA calling on them to re-open negotiations and to improve the pay offer to higher education staff and have issued a joint statement.
HE pay 2026/27
Work is currently underway for the 2026/27 pay claim. More information will be available soon.
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Get your colleagues involved
If your colleagues aren’t members of UNISON already, encourage them to join today.