Queen’s University Belfast has had its membership of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) revoked after it offered its staff a pay rise outside the formal negotiating process.
In a strongly worded statement, Ucea said it regarded the deal struck locally to end the disruptive marking and assessment boycott at Queen’s as “an extremely serious matter” that was “incompatible with continued membership”.
It said it had informed Queen’s that its membership was being terminated for a period of three years “in the first instance”.
Ucea conducts pay negotiations with the five sector trade unions on behalf of 144 higher education institutions, and all are expected to abide by what is collectively agreed.
