“University employers offered staff a 0.3% pay rise today but union officials say they will still go ahead with plans to ballot for strike action over job losses. Union leaders have called for an 8% rise in pay next year but in response the University and College Employers Association (UCEA) offered what it called a ‘realistic, responsible and credible’ figure of 0.3% at today’s second official meeting to set the 2009-10 wage levels. UCEA said the offer would be in addition to incremental payments of 3% that most higher education staff would receive and the decision was made after consulting institutions facing an ‘exceptionally difficult economic climate’ …” (more)
[Anthea Lipsett, Guardian, 27 April]