Higher education members should shortly be receiving ballot papers on strike action over pay.
UNISON is urging members to vote ‘yes’ to strike action over the employers’ offer of 1%, an offer head of higher education Donna Rowe-Merriman called “miserly”.
Ms Merriman continued: “While universities have been offering expensive incentives to students like iPads, or money towards tuition fees, higher education staff have seen cuts in pay of between £663 and £3,574 over a five year period.
“Living costs have increased by more than 15% over the past five years, while pay increases for most staff have been around 2.2%.
“Our members have seen their standards of living fall substantially.
“In the meantime vice chancellors and other senior managers are finding that their salaries are increasing significantly as the sector finds itself in a sound financial position. UNISON is calling upon employees in the sector to organise and participate in the campaign to seek a fair deal on pay for staff.”
Branches have been organising pay meetings with other trade unions across the country where members can find out more about the reasons they are being asked to take action to seek an improved pay offer. More information, resources and details of how you can take action and become more involved in the campaign can be found on UNISON’s higher education pay webpage.
The ballot opened on 18 September and closes on 8 October.
Other higher education trade unions are also balloting members with a view to taking industrial action over pay. Keep up to date with the latest information by following us on twitter @UNISONinHE or on Facebook UNISON in Higher Education.
UNISON is campaigning on issues such as the Living Wage for the lowest paid staff in the sector as well as seeking ways to address the inequalities for staff around the gender pay gap and the increasing use of zero hour contracts.
