UCEA comment on UCU's ballot result

In response to UCU's ballot outcome for IA, Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:

“It is disappointing that UCU members have voted in favour of industrial action over last year’s (2022-23) closed pay round. Recognising the current cost of living pressures facing staff, UCEA, representing 144 participating employers, agreed with UCU and the other four* trade unions to bring forward the 2023-24 pay talks. This resulted in a final pay award of between 8% and 5% from August 2023 with almost half of this paid from February**, some six months in advance of the usual pay uplift date. Despite the financial pressures facing the sector, this pay award is comparable to settlements in the wider economy.

“We understand that UCU is to consult its members on the Acas-agreed terms of reference***. UCEA is fully committed to working with the trade unions on the implementation of the terms of reference to positively reset industrial relations in our sector. This is an opportunity to address some important issues, building on the extensive good practice which already exists in the sector.

“However, the threat of industrial action, particularly a marking and assessment boycott that aims to target students, puts these talks in jeopardy. Although two-thirds of academics are not actually members of UCU or any union, any threat to hurt students by not assessing their work is taken extremely seriously. Despite consistent feedback from HE institutions confirming low and isolated industrial action impacts, HE institutions will again prioritise mitigations supporting students.”